Uses of template processes and products

Asymmetric oxidations have followed the usual development pathway in which face selectivity was observed through the use of chiral auxiliaries and templates. The breakthrough came with the Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation method, which, although stoichiometric, allowed for a wide range of substrates and the stereochemistry of the product to be controlled in a predictable manner [1]. The need for a catalytic reaction was very apparent, but this was developed and now the Sharpless epoxidation is a viable process al scale, although subject to the usual economic problems of a cost-effective route to the substrate (see later) [2]. The Sharpless epoxidation has now been joined by other methods and a wide range of products are now available. The pow er of these oxidations is augmented by the synthetic utility of the resultant epoxides or diols that can be used for further transformations, especially those that use a substitution reaction (see Chapter 7) [1]. 

Zeolites have ordered micropores smaller than 2nm in diameter and are widely used as catalysts and supports in many practical reactions. Some zeolites have solid acidity and show shape-selectivity, which gives crucial effects in the processes of oil refining and petrochemistry. Metal nanoclusters and complexes can be synthesized in zeolites by the ship-in-a-bottle technique (Figure 1) [1,2], and the composite materials have also been applied to catalytic reactions. However, the decline of catalytic activity was often observed due to the diffusion-limitation of substrates or products in the micropores of zeolites. To overcome this drawback, newly developed mesoporous silicas such as FSM-16 [3,4], MCM-41 [5], and SBA-15 [6] have been used as catalyst supports, because they have large pores (2-10 nm) and high surface area (500-1000 m g ) [7,8]. The internal surface of the channels accounts for more than 90% of the surface area of mesoporous silicas. With the help of the new incredible materials, template synthesis of metal nanoclusters inside mesoporous channels is achieved and the nanoclusters give stupendous performances in various applications [9]. In this chapter, nanoclusters include nanoparticles and nanowires, and we focus on the synthesis and catalytic application of noble-metal nanoclusters in mesoporous silicas. 

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