Zeolite, Clay and Heteropoly Acid in Organic Reactions

Written for research chemists, process engineers and students interested in new catalyst materials and new catalytic methods for organic synthesis and organic processes, this work describes novel catalyses and reaction-promoting functions of zeolites, clays and heteropoly acids, stressing the remarkable catalytic performance of these catalyst materials in various types of organic reactions. Chapter 1 deals with a new approach to applying zeolites and clays to several types of liquid-phase organic synthesis as efficient catalysts and promotors, demonstrating the merits of using inorganic solids in place of homogeneous catalysts and promotors. Acid and base concerted functions of zeolite, zeolite-supported reagents, and superacid-like catalysis of metal cation-exchanged are described in detail. Clay catalysts are currently the focus of a great deal of attention. In Chapter 2, new catalytic aspects of various kinds of clays are shown through their applications to several types of organic reactions. The catalytic efficiency-determining factors of clays are described for better design of clay catalysts.
Unique catalytic performance of synthetic clays and a new modification method to enhance the acidity of clay are also demonstrated. In the final chapter, acid-base and redox molecular catalysis by heteropoly acid is described for various types of organic reactions, stressing the important role of heteropoly anion. A novel catalytic function of heteropoly anion which enables the modification of several transition metal catalysts is also presented.