Cellulose Nanocrystals as Chiral Inducers: Enantioselective Catalysis and Transmission Electron Microscopy 3D Characterization

• DOI: 10.1021/jacs.5b02034
• Publication Date: 2015-04-27T18:24:56Z
• Authors: Madhu Kaushik; Kaustuv Basu; Charles Benoit; Ciprian M. Cirtiu; Hojatollah Vali; Audrey Moores
• Keywords: Kinetic resolution

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), derived from cellulose, provide us with an opportunity to devise more sustainable solutions current technological challenges. Enantioselective catalysis, especially heterogeneous, is the preferred method for synthesis of pure chiral molecules in fine chemical industries. has been long sought as a inducer enantioselective catalysis. We report herein unprecedentedly high enantiomeric excess (ee) Pd patches deposited onto CNCs used catalysts hydrogenation prochiral ketones water at room temperature and 4 bar H2. Our system, where acted support sole source, achieved ee 65% 100% conversions. Cryo-electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron tomography were first time study 3D structure metal functionalized CNC hybrid. It established presence sub-nanometer-thick surface provided insight into induction mechanism.