Cat-in-a-cup: Facile separation of large homogeneous catalysts

A cat with nine lives: Catalyst separation and recycling is the bane of homogeneous catalysis. This problem is addressed by a two-layered ceramic membrane cylinder that allows the diffusion of reactants and products in and out, but keeps the catalyst trapped. The concept is demonstrated for the enantioselective transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone to (S)-phenylethyl alcohol with large molecular catalysts anchored on Fréchet-type dendrimers