Graphene based catalysts
We are working on carbocatalysis and on the development of organic and metallic graphene supported catalysts.
Graphene Oxide (GO) features a wide range of functional groups which may act as active sites and therefore allows the possibility to develop new sustainable catalytic systems. The aim is to take advantage of the properties of graphene looking for a synergistic interaction with metals or organocatalysts to exploit it in the catalysis of organic reactions.
Graphene Oxide (GO) features a wide range of functional groups which may act as active sites and therefore allows the possibility to develop new sustainable catalytic systems. The aim is to take advantage of the properties of graphene looking for a synergistic interaction with metals or organocatalysts to exploit it in the catalysis of organic reactions.
- - Reduced Graphene Oxide Supported Piperazine in Aminocatalysis
We have used reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) as support for piperazine to provide a heterogeneous bifunctional organocatalyst (rGO-NH) able to efficiently promote vintage organic transformations such as Knoevenagel, Michael and aldol reactions. The obtained results suggest a significant role of the support on the course of these reactions.
- Unexpected Reactivity of Graphene Oxide with DBU and DMF
An unusual reaction between GO, DBU and DMF, that typically uses base and solvent, has been thoroughly analyzed providing valuable basic knowledge about the reactivity of GO, which is essential to control functionalization and therefore the properties of graphene derivatives. A combination of characterization techniques, experiments and theoretical calculations allowed us to propose a structure for the materials and a plausible mechanism. The catalytic activity of the new basic materials was also analyzed.
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Used in Ullman and click reactions, ongoing in flow chemistry. 
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- Magnetic materials. Functionalized materials are transformed in magnetic materials to study catalytic properties and facilitate separation.
