Ionic Liquid Mediated Synthesis of Nanoparticles

The design and synthesis of organic-inorganic hybrid composite catalysts are highly desirable in industrial applications. Many active homogeneous catalysts, particularly organometallic complexes were developed to catalyze several important organic reactions (Shelke et al., 2018; Shende et al., 2019). Nevertheless, supported catalysts are preferable due to operational simplicity, ease of separation and recyclability as well as to limit quantities of waste and by-products formation in the process (Hu & Yip, 2021; Jambhulkar et al., 2020). Biphasic catalysis is one of the well-studied catalytic systems and has notable importance in the industry mainly because of its easy separation and recycling (Geldbach & Dyson, 2004; Shende et al., 2019). Although they offer a high degree of selectivity and operation simplicity during the reaction, in most cases it suffers from catalysts leaching during recycling. Furthermore, not all catalysts are sufficiently stable for extensive reuses (homogeneous catalysts represent a major problem) (Duca, 2012b; Hu & Yip, 2021; Jambhulkar et al., 2020). As a result of it, there is a need for more benign reaction conditions and processes that employ cheaper and more environmentally friendly supports for catalysts, with improved activities, selectivity, and efficiencies that have encouraged our team to come up with potential solutions to the above-highlighted problems. This thesis aims to develop multifunctional nanomaterials as a catalyst for the synthesis of high-added-value chemicals. Well-defined metal nanoparticles will be prepared in an organometallic way and immobilized in specially designed ionic liquids. The obtained hybrid functionalized ionic liquids/ metal nanoparticles (MNPs) will be deposited on inorganic supports to address, stability and recycling concerns. The catalytic performances of these nanomaterials were examined in the synthesis of added-value chemicals including with or without ionic liquids