Molecular Design of Precatalysts and Adsorption Sites

Alexander Katz, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States

We describe two applications in which molecular engineering approaches directly impact catalysis and separations. The former involves the synthesis of nanoparticles for ring-opening catalysis involving supported iridium, and uses a calix-[4]-arene-based cluster precursor to control particle nucleation and growth. This approach leads to uniform supported nanoparticles when compared with conventional methods based on incipient wetness impregnation, and these uniform structures possess higher catalytic activity. The latter areaw involves the separation of biomass-derived phenolics from sugars -- a separation that is crucial for second-generation bioethanol production. We demonstrate how the isoalted aromatic sites of MOF NU-1000 facilitate this separation in a way that amorphous materials are unable to accomplish, with the same high selectivity.