Mechanistic studies on catalytic reactions offer not only fundamental knowledge of reactivity, but insight into possible catalyst improvements. Catalytic industrial processes typically use heterogeneous catalysts, which are difficult to study on a molecular level. This challenge arises from the inability to determine the structure of the catalyst’s active site, which in turn results from the imprecise method of synthesis. Therefore, synthesizing heterogeneous catalysts with molecular insight offers an easier path to active site structure determination. Mechanistic studies can then be used to improve and understand catalysis. With this motivation, we have synthesized a silica-supported Zn(II) catalyst, and its activity for intermolecular and intramolecular hydroamination of alkynes will be presented. The Lewis acidity of the Zn sites was probed using solid-state NMR and IR spectroscopy, and kinetic analyses were performed to determine the rate law of the reaction. The results of these studies and their implications in catalyst development will be presented.

Mechanistic studies of the Zn(II)/SiO<sub>2</sub>-catalyzed hydroamination of alkynes

254th National Meeting (2017)

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Mechanistic studies of the Zn(II)/SiO2-catalyzed hydroamination of alkynes

Mechanistic studies of the Zn(II)/SiO₂-catalyzed hydroamination of alkynes