Supported gold nanoparticles catalysts for organic transformations

Our research group has recently developed a convenient method for the anchoring of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on different oxide supports (SiO2, Al2O3, TiO2, Fe3O4) previously modified with a propynyl-carbamate organic functionality. The alkynyl-carbamate moieties anchored on the surface of the support are capable of straightforwardly reducing the gold precursor chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) to afford Au/OS@Yne (OS = Oxide Support, Yne = organic functionalization), without the need of additional reducing or stabilising agents.[1,2] After being thoroughly characterized by several complementary techniques (XPS, TEM, SSNMR, AAS etc.), the catalytic activity of these systems has been evaluated in the oxidation of alcohols and in the hydroamination of alkynes, both in batch and continuous-flow conditions.[1,3