At present, one of the challenges of the scientific community is the search for processes that lead to the implementation of a sustainable economy independent of fossil reserves. In this line a group of researchers of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry of the University of Seville has developed a series of new chemical reactions more respectful with the environment
One of the greatest challenges of the 21st century is the achievement of a level of sustainability that allows the survival of the human being on our planet. From this point of view, present and future scientific development should consider as a frame of reference the philosophy of sustainable chemistry and so-called green chemistry. In this line a group of researchers of the Department of Inorganic Chemistry of the University of Seville has developed a series of new chemical reactions more respectful with the environment.
The investigations that have led to the elaboration of the Doctoral Thesis ‘Selective oxidation processes catalyzed by molybdenum oxide oxidation complexes using criteria of sustainable chemistry’, with an outstanding cum laude qualification, have focused on the study and development of new systems in reactions Of selective oxidation of organic compounds using sustainable chemistry criteria.
“This problem must be addressed either through the exploitation of alternative sources of energy or through the development of new processes for the production of chemicals of interest from non-oil dependent renewable sources. The current dependence of the chemical industry on solvents derived from petroleum has promoted the development of sustainable alternatives, in which the use of so-called unconventional solvents is one of the options “, affirms the professor of the University of Seville and author of the Study, Carlos J. Carrasco.
Thus, the experts have designed different molybdenum complexes from simple and accessible precursors, and have employed an oxidizing reagent, hydrogen peroxide, which is characterized by being abundant, economically affordable, and in addition Classified as a green oxidant by not producing residues harmful to the environment. On the other hand, most studies have been carried out using non-conventional solvents (also called ‘green’ solvents or neoteric solvents) as an alternative reaction medium that allow to reduce the environmental impact of the present organic solvents.
Among these alternative solvents is the use of so-called ionic liquids (ILs), which are usually organic salts characterized by being liquid at room temperature, non-volatile and with high capacity to dissolve non-polar substances such as metal complexes Which act as catalysts.
“Finally, in all cases, the separation and recycling of the reaction system has been considered, which is one of the basic conditions for an alternative process to be economical and acceptable from the point of view of sustainable development”, explains this researcher .
At present, one of the challenges of the scientific community is the search for processes that lead to the achievement of a sustainable economy independent of fossil reserves. This Doctoral Thesis has been developed under the framework of the Doctoral Program in Chemistry of the University of Seville.
Source:University of Seville
References :
Molybdenum-catalyzed asymmetric sulfoxidation with hydrogen peroxide and subsequent kinetic resolution, using an imidazolium-based dicarboxylate compound as the chiral inductor. Carlos J. Carrasco, Francisco Montilla and Agustín Galindo. Published in Catalysis Communications, 2016, 84, 134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catcom.2016.06.021
Experimental and theoretical insights into the oxodiperoxomolybdenum-catalysed sulphide oxidation using hydrogen peroxide in ionic liquids. Carlos J. Carrasco, Francisco Montilla, Eleuterio Álvarez, Carlo Mealli, Gabriele Manca and Agustín Galindo. Published in Dalton Transactions, 2014, 43, 13711. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2014/DT/C4DT01733A