Greener Pathways to Organics and Nanomaterials: Sustainable Applications of Nano-Catalysts

Dr. Rajendra Varma

The eco-friendly chemical synthesis, which involves benign alternatives, such as greener reaction medium in aqueous or solvent-free conditions will be presented. The synthesis of heterocyclic compounds and a variety of name reactions are the primary beneficiaries as exemplified by the synthesis of N-aryl azacycloalkanes, isoindoles, and dihydropyrazoles, 1,3,4-oxadiazoles, 1,3,4-thiadiazoles, 1,3-dioxanes, and pyrazoles etc. in aqueous media or under solvent-free microwave (MW) irradiation conditions.

Shape-controlled aqueous synthesis of noble nanostructures via benign methods using vitamins and MW-assisted spontaneous reduction of noble metal salts using sugars and glutathione will be presented. A general MW method has been developed that accomplishes the cross-linking reaction of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with metallic systems such as Pt, Cu, and in bimetallic systems such as Pd-Fe; and SWNT, MWNT, and C-60. The strategy is extended to the formation of biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) composite films with noble nanometals; such metal decoration and alignment of carbon nanotubes in CMC is possible using MW approach which also enables the shape-controlled bulk synthesis of Ag and Fe nanorods in poly (ethylene glycol) MW hydrothermal process delivers magnetic nanoferrites and micro-pine structured catalysts are obtainable in water from readily available metal salts.

The sustainable generation of an array of nano particles and their applications in catalysis and green environmental remediation will be highlighted.