Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
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CHAPTER 1
Homogeneous, Heterogeneous
and Nanocatalysis
STEFANIA ALBONETTI, RITA MAZZONI AND
FABRIZIO CAVANI*
Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale 'Toso Montanari', Universit
`
di Bologna, Viale Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy
*Email: fabrizio.cavani@unibo.it
1.1 Introduction
For the conversion of raw materials into fine chemicals and high-value
building blocks, reliable oxidation methods have been found to be in-
dispensable tools in modern organic synthesis.
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Various methods with
remarkable eciencies have been developed for a wide array of oxidative
transformations which are now well established. However, since most of
these standard protocols rely on the use of hazardous terminal oxidants or
cause the generation of significant amounts of waste products, there is
still an evident need for methodological improvements with respect to en-
vironmental and economic issues. Especially in terms of waste product
minimization and the use of renewable materials, catalytic aerobic trans-
formations offer some ideal features of a 'green' process
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towards sustain-
ability. In particular, the oxidation of alcohols is one of the most important
synthetic operations in both the organic chemistry laboratory and the
chemical industry. Although classic oxidation reactions can be very ecient
and selective, they often involve the use of stoichiometric reagents and
halogenated solvents, resulting in the generation of large quantities of
wastes.
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The urgent need for more sustainable chemical processes has
.
