Supported gold nanoparticles catalysts for organic transformations

The research work described in this thesis concerns the synthesis, characterisation and study of the catalytic activity of supported gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) immobilised on various oxide supports, i.e. silica (SiO2), alumina (Al2O3), titania (TiO2) and magnetite (Fe3O4), previously functionalised with [3-(2-propynylcarbamate)propyl]triethoxysilane (PPTEOS). The alkynyl-carbamate moieties anchored on the support were capable of straightforwardly reducing the gold precursor chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) to afford Au/OS@Yne (OS = Oxide Support, Yne = organic functionalisation), without the need of additional reducing or stabilising agents. The resulting materials were characterised by means of several complementary techniques, such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), solid state NMR spectroscopy (SS NMR) and x-rays photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), in order to investigate their structural and chemical properties. Furthermore, the catalytic activity of the obtained Au/OS@Yne was evaluated first in the oxidation of alcohols and then in the hydroamination of alkynes. Finally, during a six months stay at the Karl-Franzens University of Graz, a second research work was carried out, concerning the study of metal organic frameworks biocomposites.