Issue 3, 2013

Tuning the catalytic activity of l-proline functionalized hydrophobic nanogel particles in water

Abstract

L-Proline functionalized PMMA nanogels with a range of catalyst functionalization (0.5–15 wt%) and cross-linking densities (0–50 wt%) were prepared via emulsion polymerization. The catalyst efficiency in water was investigated using a model asymmetric aldol reaction and an unprecedented reduction in catalyst loading, whilst maintaining high catalytic activity, is reported. In these reactions, a marked effect on selectivity was observed and determined to be dependent on the hydrophobicity of the nanogel particles. Furthermore, the effect of increasing cross-linking density on the catalytic efficiency of these particles (and their core–shell analogues) was explored and a significant reduction in activity was observed.

Graphical abstract: Tuning the catalytic activity of l-proline functionalized hydrophobic nanogel particles in water

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
17 Aug 2012
Accepted
02 Nov 2012
First published
20 Nov 2012
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2013,4, 965-969

Tuning the catalytic activity of L-proline functionalized hydrophobic nanogel particles in water

A. Lu, D. Moatsou, D. A. Longbottom and R. K. O'Reilly, Chem. Sci., 2013, 4, 965 DOI: 10.1039/C2SC21300A

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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