The design of robust solid catalysts which can selectively synthesize highly functionalized carbohydrate derivatives from unprotected and unactivated simple sugars in water is an outstanding challenge. Herein we describe the preparation of a novel nanospherical ordered mesoporous Lewis acid polymer (Sc(OTf)₂-NSMP) by functionalizing the mesoporous phenol-formaldehyde polymer framework with scandium triflate groups. In the C-glycosylation reaction between D-glucose and dimedone with the Sc(OTf)₂-NSMP catalyst, the conversion was 99 % and the yield of xanthone-C-glucoside reached 92 % after 2 days, which exceeded the previous best results. It was shown that other xanthone glycosides can be obtained from various sugars with moderate to good yields. Furthermore, the catalyst can be easily recovered and reused at least seven times without loss of catalytic activity.

The design of robust solid catalysts which can selectively synthesize highly functionalized carbohydrate derivatives from unprotected and unactivated simple sugars in water is an outstanding challenge. Herein we describe the preparation of a novel nanospherical ordered mesoporous Lewis acid polymer (Sc(OTf)₂-NSMP) by functionalizing the mesoporous phenol-formaldehyde polymer framework with scandium triflate groups. In the C-glycosylation reaction between D-glucose and dimedone with the Sc(OTf)₂-NSMP catalyst, the conversion was 99 % and the yield of xanthone-C-glucoside reached 92 % after 2 days, which exceeded the previous best results. It was shown that other xanthone glycosides can be obtained from various sugars with moderate to good yields. Furthermore, the catalyst can be easily recovered and reused at least seven times without loss of catalytic activity.

Phenyl-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs) functionalized with diphenylphosphino (PPh₂-) ligands were synthesized via a surfactant-directed self-assembly approach, and were used as a support to immobilize Ni(II) organometallic complex by coordination interaction. In comparison with Ni-PPh₂-SBA-15 and Ni-PPh₂-PMOs(Et) catalysts, the as-prepared Ni-PPh₂-PMOs(Ph) exhibited superior catalytic reactivity and selectivity in water-medium Sonogashira reaction. A control experiment demonstrated that its high activity could be attributed to the high dispersion of Ni(II) active sites and ordered mesopore channels, which effectively diminished diffusion limitation. Meanwhile, the phenyl organic groups in the support wall enhanced surface hydrophobicity, which promoted the adsorption for organic reactant molecules. Moreover, it displayed almost the same catalytic efficiency with the corresponding homogeneous Ni(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ catalyst and could be used repetitively, which was considered as a more environmentally friendly catalytic process since it simultaneously avoided the use of noble metal active species and toxic organic solvents. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Water-medium organic reactions were studied over periodic mesoporous silica (PMO) containing Pd(II) organometallic complex. This heterogeneous catalyst was achieved by Pd(II) compound coordinated with the PPh₂-ligand onto the pore surface of phenylene-bridged PMO support. This catalyst displayed ordered mesoporous channels, which ensured the high dispersion of Pd(II) active sites and the convenient diffusion of reactant molecules into the pore channels. Meanwhile, the phenyl group in the pore wall of PMO could enhance the surface hydrophobicity which promoted the adsorption of organic reactant molecules on the catalyst in aqueous environment. As a result, this elaborated catalyst exhibited comparable activity and selectivity with the corresponding PdCl₂(PPh₃)₂ homogeneous catalyst in the water-medium organic reactions, and could be used repeatedly, showing a good potential in industrial applications. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.