The cross-coupling reactions are the most widely used reactions in the pharmaceutical industry. These reactions have been traditionally carried out using homogeneous metal catalysts. Nano-metal catalyzed cross-coupling reactions will have several advantages as they can be used as a platform to develop energy efficient and environmentally friendly flow processes. Recently, promising results have been reported in the literature on the use of metal nanocatalysts for cross-coupling reactions. However, identifying the catalytic pathway (i.e., heterogeneous versus homogeneous pathway) remains a highly challenging task.<br/><br/>In this contribution, we show that surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy can be used as platform to distinguish homogeneous and heterogeneous pathways in nano-metal catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Using finite-difference time-domain optical simulations, we show the use of UV-Vis extinction spectrums to monitor nanoparticle geometry and thus to elucidate whether a catalyst utilizes the homogenous or heterogenous pathway. We demonstrate that for a variety of nanocatalysts for cross-coupling reactions there is a measurable SPR peak shift and/or change in SPR intensity in the UV-Vis extinction spectrum that can be predicted and observed when the homogenous pathway is favored. This novel and simple UV-Vis surface plasmon spectroscopic technique will help to (a) fundamentally understand the catalytic pathway and (b) develop efficient catalysts for cross-coupling flow processes in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries.

Surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy as a platform for characterization of nanometal catalyzed cross-coupling reactions

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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