Learning objectives
The course aims at providing the principles of several processes in their
modern version in order to give students the conceptual instruments for
an innovative activity in the field of industrial research and development.
Course unit content
The course covers the following subjects:
Oxidation processes: how to use oxygen; hydrogen peroxide and others
simple oxidants; role of the metals; homogeneous and heterogeneous
catalysis of the oxidation processes of organic substrates; how to protect
products and materials from the harmful effect of oxygen; catalyst
design.
Hydrogenation processes: use of hydrogen and hydride transfer in
homogeneous catalysis; asymmetric catalysis; use of hydrogen in
heterogeneous catalysis.
Halogenation processes: chlorination, oxychlorination and fluorination.
Oxidation-reduction processes (electrochemical): new technology in
electrochemical processes in organic solvents with particular regard to
the duplication of acrylonitrile; techniques of oxidation and reduction with
chemical reagents that revert to the initial oxidation state
electrochemically. Carbonylation processes: metal carbonyls; catalysis of the introduction of
carbon monoxide into organic substrates to form aldehydes, ketons,
acids and esters. Carboxylation processes: direct introduction of carbon dioxide into
organic molecules. Formation of C-C bond processes: catalysis of cyanation, dimerization,
oligomerization and metathesis of unsaturated substrates.
Bibliography
K. Weissermel, H.-J. Arpe, Industrial Organic Chemistry, Wiley-VCH,
Weinheim, 4th ed., 2003.
G.P. Chiusoli, P.M. Maitlis, Metal-catalysis in Industrial Organic Processes,
RSC Publishing, 2008.
J. Hagen, Industrial Catalysis, Wiley-VCH, 1999. P.W.N.M. van Leeuwen, Homogeneous Catalysis, Kluwer Academic
Publishers, 2004. G.C. Bond, Heterogeneous Catalysis, Oxford University Press, 1987.
