The Chemistry of CO2 and Nitrogen-Containing Bases

人们常常憎恨二氧化碳，因为它是导致全球变暖的气体。然而，从发电厂和其他行业收集的二氧化碳废物可以回收利用。我的研究计划的长期目标是找到废旧二氧化碳的新用途，重点是二氧化碳与有机碱的反应，或由有机碱促进的反应。这项工作包括将二氧化碳转化为有用的产品，将二氧化碳用作临时工艺助剂，以及相关研究，如有机碱的更绿色合成。拟议的工作分为三个主题。 主题1：有机碱的化学。二氧化碳化学通常需要金属催化剂和/或有机碱，如胺。一种常见的制备胺和聚合胺的方法会产生严重受盐污染的含水废物。我们将寻求一个更环保的过程。在第二个项目中，我们将开发能够以前所未有的方式与二氧化碳发生反应的金属络合物，将二氧化碳与金属原子和有机碱(如嘧啶或胍)结合起来。 主题2.避免易燃溶剂。在这个主题中，我们将评估一种使用二氧化碳从水中分离有机化合物(如生物衍生产品)的新方法。分离是化学制造中最耗能的步骤，特别是在从生物质生产化学品的过程中。如果新方法比传统方法需要更少的能源，那么这可能会使社会更容易使用可持续的原料。在第二个项目中，我们将确定二氧化碳响应型溶剂是否可以通过a)促进反应和b)促进反应后产物与溶剂的分离来简化某些有机产品的制造过程。 主题3.可切换的多相催化剂。在化学制造中，如果催化剂能够选择性地和顺序地催化一个反应，然后再催化另一个反应；催化一个反应，然后在分离过程中保护自己不受空气的影响；或者根据操作者当时的意愿，将它们的化学选择性从一个产品改变到另一个产品，那么催化剂可能会更加有用。我们将开发这样的催化剂。 总体而言，这些项目将产生更环保的方法来生产加拿大社会所需的化学品，消耗更少的能源，使用更可持续的原料(生物质和二氧化碳)，并减少含金属或含氯废物的产生。 学生将接受绿色化学研究项目的培训，强调技术技能、沟通技能、创造力、安全性和学习广度。为了鼓励学习的广度，我让学生与其他学科的教职员工、行业、专利代理和加拿大绿色中心进行互动。为了鼓励创造力和发明创造，鼓励学生为他们的项目做出智力贡献，因此我们的专利申请经常被命名为发明人。

Carbon dioxide is often hated because it's the gas that causes global warming. However, the waste CO2 that's collected from power plants and other industries can be recycled in ways that make it useful. The long term goal of my research program is to find new applications of waste CO2, with an emphasis on reactions of CO2 with, or promoted by, organic bases. This work includes conversion of CO2 into useful products, the use of CO2 as a temporary process aid, and related research such as greener syntheses of organic bases. The proposed work is divided into three themes. Theme 1. Chemistry of Organic Bases. CO2 chemistry often requires metal catalysts and/or organic bases such as amines. A common method of preparing amines and polymeric amines produces aqueous waste that is heavily contaminated with salts. We will seek a greener process. In a second project, we will develop metal complexes that can react with CO2 in an unprecedented manner, binding the CO2 between a metal atom and an organic base such as an amidine or guanidine. Theme 2. Avoiding Flammable Solvents. In this theme, we will evaluate a new method, using CO2, for separating organic compounds such as bio-derived products from water. Separations are the most energy-costly steps in chemical manufacturing, especially in the production of chemicals from biomass. If the new method requires less energy than traditional methods, then this could make it easier for society to use sustainable feedstocks. In a second project, we will determine whether CO2-responsive solvents can simplify the process of manufacturing some organic products by both a) promoting the reaction and b) facilitating the post-reaction separation of the products from the solvent. Theme 3. Switchable Heterogeneous Catalysts. In chemical manufacturing, catalysts could be even more useful if they had the ability to selectively and sequentially catalyze one reaction and then another; to catalyze a reaction and then protect themselves from air during separation; or to change their chemoselectivity from one product to another depending on what the operator wished at the time. We will develop such catalysts. Overall, these projects will lead to methods for the greener manufacturing of the chemicals needed by Canadian society, consuming less energy, using more sustainable feedstocks (biomass and CO2) and decreasing the production of metal- or chlorine-containing waste. Students will be trained in a research program in green chemistry, emphasizing technical skills, communication skills, creativity, safety, and breadth of learning. In order to encourage breadth of learning, I have students interact with faculty in other disciplines, with industry, with patent agents, and with GreenCentre Canada. In order to encourage creativity and inventiveness, students are encouraged to contribute intellectually to their projects and are consequently often named as inventors on our patent applications.