A Smart Heterogeneous Catalyst for Efficient, Chemo- And
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
catalysts Article A Smart Heterogeneous Catalyst for Efficient, Chemo- and Stereoselective Hydrogenation of 3-Hexyn-1-ol Stefano Paganelli 1,*, Alessio Angi 1, Nicolò Pajer 1 and Oreste Piccolo 2,* 1 Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, Via Torino 155, 30172 Venezia Mestre (VE), Italy; [email protected] (A.A.); [email protected] (N.P.) 2 Studio di Consulenza Scientifica (SCSOP), Via Bornò 5, 23896 Sirtori (LC), Italy * Correspondence: [email protected] (S.P.); [email protected] (O.P.); Tel.: +39-0412348592 (S.P.); +39-3356828222 (O.P.) Abstract: We examine the easy preparation of mono- and bi-metallic heterogeneous catalysts with low Pd and Cu contents on alumina and provide a detailed study of many reaction parameters in the catalyzed selective semihydrogenation of 3-hexyn-1-ol to (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, a very important fragrance with an herbaceous note. In particular, two different protocols of Pd catalyst preparation, substrate/catalyst molar ratio, the effect of time and temperature, introduction of some additives to the reaction mixture, and the nature of the solvent were investigated. These factors are not independent variables. The results show that it is possible to control the reaction outcome to obtain the target (Z)-alkenol using different experimental conditions. The best result, as an appropriate compromise between conversion and selectivity, may be obtained by working with a very high substrate/catalyst molar ratio (>6000/1), with one type of Pd catalyst, in a short time (about 150 min) at 60 ◦C. Keywords: heterogeneous catalyst; selective hydrogenation; alkyne; (Z)-alkene; fragrance Citation: Paganelli, S.; Angi, A.; Pajer, 1. Introduction N.; Piccolo, O. A Smart Heterogeneous The selective hydrogenation of unsaturated substrates is a powerful tool for the Catalyst for Efficient, Chemo- and Stereoselective Hydrogenation of preparation of both bulk and fine chemicals [1–3]. The design of an efficient catalyst to 3-Hexyn-1-ol. Catalysts 2021, 11, 14. obtain a high chemo- and/or stereo-selectivity without loss of catalytic activity is often https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ still a challenge. Homogeneous catalysts are more selective than heterogeneous ones catal11010014 due to the steric and electronic effects of the ligands, but heterogeneous catalysts are preferable from an industrial point of view as they can be easily separated and reused. Received: 7 November 2020 For this reason, metals supported on charcoal, zeolites, or oxides, such as SiO2 or Al2O3, Accepted: 22 December 2020 are largely employed and the selectivity strongly depends on the adsorption strength and Published: 25 December 2020 configuration of both reactants and intermediates on the surface of the catalyst, which in turn is determined by the electronic and geometric structures of the active sites [4,5]. As Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neu- a result, the preparation process of the catalyst plays a fundamental role. An interesting tral with regard to jurisdictional claims aspect of selectivity is the semihydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes with strong relevance in published maps and institutional for industrial applications [6–26]. Chemoselectivity is important for internal alkynes, but affiliations. it is not the only parameter to consider: another crucial aspect for producing (Z) or (E) isomers is stereoselectivity. This underlines that a subsequent isomerization from (Z) to (E) isomers may occur in the reaction mixture being catalyzed by the same heterogeneous Copyright: © 2020 by the authors. Li- metallic species. In this work, we focused on the selective reduction of 3-hexyn-1-ol (I) to censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This produce mostly the corresponding (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol [(Z)-(II)] [27–29] (Scheme1). article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/). Catalysts 2021, 11, 14. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/catal11010014 https://www.mdpi.com/journal/catalysts CatalystsCatalysts2021 2021, 11, 11, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of2 of10 9 SchemeScheme 1.1. Hydrogenation of 3-hexyn-1-ol ( (II).). CompoundCompound ((ZZ)-()-(IIII)) isis found found in in various various natural natural essential essential oils oils and and aroma-active aroma-active volatiles, vola- andtiles, it and is currently it is currently used inused many in many perfumes perfumes because because of its powerful,of its powerful, fresh, green,fresh, green, grassy, andgrassy, herbaceous and herbaceous notes [ 27notes,30,31 [27,30,31].]. With this With aim, this we aim, prepared we prepared two heterogeneous two heterogeneous 0.25% Pd/Al0.25% 2Pd/AlO3 catalysts2O3 catalysts (Cat 1 (Cat and 1 Cat and 1*), Cat following 1*), following a general a general smart smart methodology methodology developed de- inveloped our laboratory in our laboratory to prepare to low prepare metal low content metal heterogeneous content heterogeneous catalysts on catalysts alumina on [32 alu-,33]. Themina preparation [32,33]. The of preparation these two catalysts of these two differs cataly onlysts in differs the addition only in ofthe alumina: addition inof thealumina: case of Catin the 1, itcase was of introduced Cat 1, it was as a introduced solid into the as reactiona solid into mixture the reaction containing mixture the colloidal containing reduced the metalcolloidal in cyclopentyl reduced metal methyl in cyclopentyl ether (CPME); methyl for ether Cat 1*, (CPME); the reaction for Cat mixture 1*, the containingreaction mix- the colloidalture containing reduced the metal colloidal was added reduced to a suspensionmetal was ofadded alumina to a insuspension CPME. Some of publicationsalumina in claimCPME. there Some is anpublications advantage claim to using there bimetallic is an advantage catalysts, to using in particular bimetallic catalysts catalysts, containing in par- Pdticular and Cu,catalysts for the containing semi-hydrogenation Pd and ofCu, alkynes for (20,21,23,26).the semi-hydrogenation As a result, weof decidedalkynes to explore(20,21,23,26). for the As first a result, time the we synthesis decided ofto aexpl bimetallicore for catalystthe first (0.156%time the Cu, synthesis 0.075% of Pd)/Al a bime-2O3 (Cattallic 2) catalyst using a(0.156% one-pot Cu, protocol, 0.075% wherePd)/Al2 regentsO3 (Cat were2) using placed a one-pot all together protocol, in thewhere reactor. re- Here,gents wewere present placed the all results together obtained in the byreacto investigatingr. Here, we the present influence the ofresults numerous obtained reaction by parameters,investigating such the asinfluence catalyst of preparation numerous protocol,reaction parameters, amount of catalyst, such as temperature,catalyst preparation reaction time,protocol, presence amount of someof catalyst, additives, temperature, and nature reaction of the time, solvent presence in the semihydrogenationof some additives, and of I innature the effort of the to solvent identify in the suitable semihydrogenation conditions to maximize of I in the botheffort substrate to identifyI conversionsuitable condi- and selectivitytions to maximize to (Z)-(II both). substrate I conversion and selectivity to (Z)-(II). 2. Results and Discussion 2. Results and Discussion The preparation of these 0.25% Pd/Al2O3 catalysts, as described in the experimental The preparation of these 0.25% Pd/Al2O3 catalysts, as described in the experimental section, is simple, requiring no special equipment or energy-intensive reactions. It is section, is simple, requiring no special equipment or energy-intensive reactions. It is char- characterized by the absence or limited amount of water in the reaction mixture, unlike the acterized by the absence or limited amount of water in the reaction mixture, unlike the procedures commonly used to prepare supported metal catalysts [5,28]. Our protocol is procedures commonly used to prepare supported metal catalysts [5,28]. Our protocol is affected by the type of alumina used as support [33] and has a good reproducibility. The affected by the type of alumina used as support [33] and has a good reproducibility. The catalysts, if stored under controlled conditions to avoid unwanted contact with humidity catalysts, if stored under controlled conditions to avoid unwanted contact with humidity and air, maintain a good stability over time. In the laboratory, we have always adopted and air, maintain a good stability over time. In the laboratory, we have always adopted a a two-pot protocol to prepare the Pd catalysts; however, here, we decided to explore a two-pot protocol to prepare the Pd catalysts; however, here, we decided to explore a dif- different order of the addition of alumina with the aim to improve the homogeneity of ferent order of the addition of alumina with the aim to improve the homogeneity of the the catalyst and to reduce possible variability effects. A preliminary investigation of the catalyst and to reduce possible variability effects. A preliminary investigation of the struc- structure of two catalyst samples, prepared with these two procedures, was performed by ture of two catalyst samples, prepared with these two procedures, was performed by SEM SEM analysis (Figures S1–S5). In the Cat 1* sample, the average metal particle size was analysis (Figures S1–S5). In the Cat 1* sample, the average metal particle size was signifi- significantly smaller (<<100 nm) compared with those of Cat 1 (where bigger metal particles cantly smaller (<<100 nm) compared with those of Cat 1 (where bigger metal particles up up to 200 nm were present), and a better distribution occurred. As preliminary work, we to 200 nm were present), and a better distribution occurred. As preliminary work, we also also explored the outcome of the simpler one-pot procedure, inspired by the Rh/Al2O3 explored the outcome of the simpler one-pot procedure, inspired by the Rh/Al2O3 indus- industrial protocol [34], but we only have a limited number of results for the Pd catalyst trial protocol [34], but we only have a limited number of results for the Pd catalyst at at present, which calls for a more detailed study, but this did not affect the present work.