Hybrid catalysts based on N-heterocyclic carbene anchored on hierarchical zeolites.

Hybrid materials have been synthesized by anchoring a N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursor on different inorganic zeolitic supports with hierarchical porosity, in particular hierarchical HZSM-5 and SAPO-5. Hierarchical porous inorganic supports have been obtained both by top-down and bottom-up approaches and the role of hierarchical porosity has been evaluated. A detailed physico-chemical characterization has been performed on the organic-inorganic hybrids using a multi-technique approach (XRD, volumetric and thermogravimetric analysis, ssNMR and FTIR) in order to establish a structure-property relationship. The hybrids were tested in the benzoin condensation reaction of furfural, a base catalyzed reaction.