Heterogeneous Organo- and Metal Catalysis Using Phosphine Oxide Derivatives Anchored on Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

Oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes were modified anchoring phosphine oxides and used as heterogeneous catalysts. A proper substitution of the phosphine oxides allowed the use of the Tour reaction and the nitrene cycloaddition to obtain functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT) with a loading up to 0.73 mmol/g of material. The catalysts proved efficient in Wittig reactions, Mitsunobu reactions, and Staudinger ligations. Furthermore, the phosphorus decorated CNT were used to produce nanocomposite with Pd nanoparticles able to catalyze Heck reactions.