One-pot sequences of reactions with sol-gel entrapped opposing reagents. Oxidations and catalytic reductions

An oxidant and a reducing catalyst are placed in a single pot without destroying each other, but are still capable of carrying out useful reactions, simultaneously. The oxidant, pyridinium dichromate, and an H₂-reduction catalyst, RhCl[P(C₆H₅)₃]₃, were entrapped in separate sol-gel matrices, and with these entrapped reagent and catalyst, three different flow-chart sequences of one-pot redox reactions were carried out - up to four reactions in one pot - without their mutual destruction and with no need for separation steps.