HOMOGENEOUS CATALYSIS
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
The student should have a good knowledge of coordination chemistry (metal-ligand and metal-substrate interaction) and organometallic chemistry. Although there are no specific propaedeuticities, it would help for a fruitful learning of the Course knowledge if the student had previously taken the Advanced Inorganic Chemistry and Organometallic Chemistry courses delivered in the first year.
The final examination will consist of an oral test that also includes a discussion of the laboratory work.
Before taking this examination, the student must produce laboratory reports related to the experiences conducted, reports that will be an integral part of the final evaluation.
The oral examination is organized by the formulation of two open questions concerning the topics proposed during the lectures and a synthesis exercise inherent to these topics, aimed at testing the student's ability to discuss in depth the synthetic and mechanistic aspects of a homogeneous-phase catalytic reaction. Finally, there are two questions related to laboratory experiences. The final grade will take into account the accuracy and quality of the answers (20 percent), the candidate's concise ability in exposing the required topics (20 percent) and the communicative ability shown during the interview (20 percent), as well as the candidate's participation in the laboratory activities (40 percent), in which the degree of autonomy and competence both in the operational practice and in writing reports will be evaluated above all.
The course aims to provide in-depth knowledge on different aspects related to homogeneous catalysis, both from a theoretical and practical point of view, and through laboratory experiences. This knowledge will enable the future graduate to achieve a certain degree of autonomy in the design and implementation of a catalytic reaction, allowing him/her to evaluate all aspects (theoretical and practical) useful for the achievement of the expected results during implementation.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. understand both mechanistically and synthetically the main catalytic processes,
2. discuss both synthetic laboratory-level processes and industrial processes
3. apply the aforementioned knowledge in carrying out laboratory experiences aimed at the synthesis and characterization of certain metallorganic catalysts
4. use metallorganic catalysts in hydrogenation and/or carbon-carbon coupling reactions (e.g., Heck, Suzuki, olefin cyclopropanation)
5. understand basic techniques used in practical experiments of catalytic reactions.
6. apply the rules of safety and behavior in a chemical laboratory with reference to conducting homogeneous catalysis experiments.
(10 hrs.): introduction to homogeneous catalysis, mainly focused on reviewing the basic concepts that characterize the different steps of a catalytic cycle (oxidative addition, migratory insertion, reductive elimination).
(10 hours): historical background and catalytic reactions of addition of hydrogen to alkenes, alkynes, C=E (where E = O and N) with transition metals. Mechanisms of dihydrogen activation (oxidative addition, hydrogenolysis, heterolytic cleavege) and their implications in catalytic cycles. Applications, steric aspects and selectivity in hydrogenation reactions with cationic catalysts.
(10 hours): C-X bond forming reactions (X = B, Si, N and O). Industrial processes such as oxo process, Wacker process and Monsanto process.
(10 hours): brief description of the main organometallic systems currently used in homogeneous catalysis. C-C formation reactions: basic principles. Introduction to laboratory experiences.
(36 hours): laboratory activities where students test their skills in applying the knowledge gained in the course to practical experiments of catalytic reactions.
(10 hrs.): introduction to homogeneous catalysis, mainly focused on reviewing the basic concepts that characterize the different steps of a catalytic cycle (oxidative addition, migratory insertion, reductive elimination).
(10 hours): historical background and catalytic reactions of addition of hydrogen to alkenes, alkynes, C=E (where E = O and N) with transition metals. Mechanisms of dihydrogen activation (oxidative addition, hydrogenolysis, heterolytic cleavege) and their implications in catalytic cycles. Applications, steric aspects and selectivity in hydrogenation reactions with cationic catalysts.
(10 hours): C-X bond forming reactions (X = B, Si, N and O). Industrial processes such as oxo process, Wacker process and Monsanto process.
(10 hours): brief description of the main organometallic systems currently used in homogeneous catalysis. C-C formation reactions: basic principles. Introduction to laboratory experiences.
(36 hours): laboratory activities where students test their skills in applying the knowledge gained in the course to practical experiments of catalytic reactions.
The first part of the course uses face-to-face lectures (40 hours) in which slides provided to students (via access to the e-learning platform) prior to the lecture itself will be projected and discussed.
The student will thus be able to view the material in advance of the lecture, participating more actively in the lecture itself and possibly contributing to the classroom discussion.
The second part of the course (36 hours) involves practical laboratory exercises in which students will first synthesize some of the catalysts described during the lectures. Then, these systems will be used in catalytic reactions of hydrogenation and/or C-C bond formation.
At the beginning of the lab, handouts with the methods related to the experiences will be provided to the students: the student will have to show that he/she can organize the work independently and productively, achieving the results expected from each experience within the set time.
Office hours
Daily from 9:30 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the teacher's office, by appointment by e-mail.