Alternative Reduction Systems

Metal-induced reductive dimerization of carbonyl compounds is a useful synthetic method for the formation of vicinally functionalized carbon-carbon bonds. For stoichiometric reductive dimerizations, low-valent metals such as aluminum amalgam, titanium, vanadium, zinc, and samarium have been employed. Alternatively, ternary systems consisting of catalytic amounts of a metal salt or metal complex, a chlorosilane, and a stoichiometric co-reductant provide a catalytic method for the formation of pinacols based on reversible redox couples.2 The homocoupling of aldehydes is effected by vanadium or titanium catalysts in the presence of Me3SiCl and Zn or A1 to give the 1,2-diol derivatives high selectivity for the /-isomer is observed in the case of secondary aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes. 

Manufacture of ruthenium precatalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation. The technology in-licensed from the JST for the asymmetric reduction of ketones originally employed BINAP as the diphosphine and an expensive diamine, DAIPEN." Owing to the presence of several patents surrounding ruthenium complexes of BINAP and Xylyl-BINAP, [HexaPHEMP-RuCl2-diamine] and [PhanePHOS-RuCl2-diamine] were introduced as alternative catalyst systems in which a cheaper diamine is used. Compared to the BINAP-based systems both of these can offer superior performance in terms of activity and selectivity and have been used in commercial manufacture of chiral alcohols on multi-100 Kg scales. 

NRA (1992). Nitrate Reduction for Protection Zones The Role of Alternative Farming Systems. Elm Farm Research Centre, R D note 108. National Rivers Authority Bristol. 

Since 1981, three-way catalytic systems have been standard in new cars sold in North America.6,280 These systems consist of platinum, palladium, and rhodium catalysts dispersed on an activated alumina layer ( wash-coat ) on a ceramic honeycomb monolith the Pt and Pd serve primarily to catalyze oxidation of the CO and hydrocarbons, and the Rh to catalyze reduction of the NO. These converters operate with a near-stoichiometric air-fuel mix at 400-600 °C higher temperatures may cause the Rh to react with the washcoat. In some designs, the catalyst bed is electrically heated at start-up to avoid the problem of temporarily excessive CO emissions from a cold catalyst. Zeolite-type catalysts containing bound metal atoms or ions (e.g., Cu/ZSM-5) have been proposed as alternatives to systems based on precious metals. 

The inefficiency of the platinum/hydrogen reduction system and the dangers involved with the combination of molecular oxygen and molecular hydrogen led to a search for alternatives for the reduction of the manganese porphyrin. It was, for example, found that a rhodium complex in combination with formate ions could be used as a reductant and, at the same time, as a phase-transfer catalyst in a biphasic system, with the formate ions dissolved in the aqueous layer and the manganese porphyrin and the alkene substrate in the organic layer [28]. 

An alternative biosensor system has been developed by Hart et al. [44] which involves the use of the NAD+-dependent GDH enzyme. The first step of the reaction scheme involves the enzymatic reduction of NAD+ to NADH, which is bought about by the action of GDH on glucose. The analytical signal arises from the electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH back to NAD+ in the presence of the electrocatalyst Meldola s Blue (MB), at a potential of only 0Y. Biosensors utilising this mediator have been reviewed elsewhere [1,17]. Razumiene et al. [45] employed a similar system using both GDH and alcohol dehydrogenase with the cofactor pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), the oxidation of which was mediated by a ferrocene derivative. 

If the ester group is conjugated with a ir-electron system, alternative reduction processes can occur. Benzoate esters are reduced to the 1,4-dihydrobenzoates by sodium in the system NH3/THF/H20. For... 

The PEPS Gasification system offers the capability to convert a petroleum refinery by-product into valuable, ultra-clean liquid fuels. Alternately, the system can be modified to generate hydrogen, another valuable clean fuel. These fuels could reduce the nation s dependence on imported oil. Preliminary design for a 25 TPD Clean Fuels PEPS pilot unit has been completed, as has some risk reduction testing. Future funding for completion of the project is... 

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