title: Transition-metal-free catalysts for the sustainable epoxidation of alkenes: from discovery to optimisation by means of high throughput experimentation.
abstract: Transition-metal-free oxides were studied as heterogeneous catalysts for the sustainable epoxidation of alkenes with aqueous H₂O₂ by means of high throughput experimentation (HTE) techniques. A full-factorial HTE approach was applied in the various stages of the development of the catalysts: the synthesis of the materials, their screening as heterogeneous catalysts in liquid-phase epoxidation and the optimisation of the reaction conditions. Initially, the chemical composition of transition-metal-free oxides was screened, leading to the discovery of gallium oxide as a novel, active and selective epoxidation catalyst. On the basis of these results, the research line was continued with the study of structured porous aluminosilicates, gallosilicates and silica-gallia composites. In general, the gallium-based materials showed the best catalytic performances. This family of materials represents a promising class of heterogeneous catalysts for the sustainable epoxidation of alkenes and offers a valid alternative to the transition-metal heterogeneous catalysts commonly used in epoxidation. High throughput experimentation played an important role in promoting the development of these catalytic systems.
authors: Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, University of Leuven-K.U. Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 23, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors: Warunee
authors: W
authors: Lueangchaichaweng
authors: Inge
authors: I
authors: Geukens
authors: Annelies
authors: A
authors: Peeters
authors: Benjamin
authors: B
authors: Jarry
authors: Franck
authors: F
authors: Launay
authors: Jean-Luc
authors: JL
authors: Bonardet
authors: Pierre A
authors: PA
authors: Jacobs
authors: Paolo P
authors: PP
authors: Pescarmona
mesh_terms: D000475:Alkenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005708:Gallium / Q000737:chemistry*; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000475:Alkenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D014867:Water; C038863:gallium oxide; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005708:Gallium