Main Group Catalysis in Ionic Liquids

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

This project combines two topical areas: Main Group catalysis and ionic liquids, based on previous work by the group on the development of borenium ionic liquids. This research will involve designing and synthesising ionic liquids displaying FLP activity, characterising them and exploring their catalytic applications. The aim is to further the development of new ionic liquids with highly Lewis acidic borenium cations, for applications in catalysis, in particular as frustrated Lewis pairs (FLP). A study into the design of ionic liquids FLP systems that can activate hydrogen will be undertaken and applied to the reduction of organic substrates. Ionic liquid FLPs have many advantages over FLP chemistry in organic solvents, in particular high concentration of active species and negligible volatility. Initial studies will be carried out homogenously, at NMR scale, followed by immobilisation of the IL-FLPs on solid supports and moving onto heterogenous catalysis. Activation of other small molecules, in particular CO2 and methane, will be investigated.