BMIm-PF₆@SiO₂ Microcapsules: Particulated ionic liquid as a new material for the heterogenization of catalysts

A method for the preparation of silica microcapsules containing a high loading of ionic liquids (ILs) is described. The method paves the way to the conversion of ionic liquids into particulated materials, which results in ILs with new properties without changing their molecular structures. The synthesis of these new materials is based on the emulsification of ionic liquids in water, using surfactants or dispersants, and the resulting ionic liquid droplets are then confined in a silica shell formed via interfacial hydrolysis and polycondensation of tetraethoxysilane. This material can be isolated by centrifugation, followed by drying to yield a fine powder of ionic liquid-silica microcapsules, which are water and organic solvents redispersible. These new materials are utilized in the heterogenization of palladium catalyst and then applied in the hydrogenation of alkynes. The catalyst shows chemoselectivity in the hydrogenation of internal alkynes such as 4-octyne. Comparative studies have shown that the same catalyst loses this selectivity when it is applied under homogeneous conditions.