I have had an interest in catalysis by solid bases for a long time. Most base catalysed reactions are performed in the liquid phase using NaOH or KOH as the bases. Our interest lies in converting these processes from using liquid bases to solid bases. To do that we must understand how solid base catalysts operate. Our initial studies have centred round production of MIBK from acetone and 2-ethyl hexanol from butyraldehyde.The Aldol Condensation of Acetone over a CsOH/SiO2 Solid Base Catalyst, “Catalysis of Organic Reactions”, p.363 – 372, (John Sowa Jr, ed.), Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, (2005). (S.D. Jackson, A.S. Canning, E. McLeod and E.M. Vass)
Aldol Condensation of Acetone over CsOH/SiO2 : a Mechanistic Insight using Isotopic Labelling. Applied Catal., A, 289, 59 - 65, (2005). (S.D. Jackson, A.S. Canning, E. McLeod, and E.M. Vass)
Synthesis of Methyl Isobutyl Ketone over a Multi-functional Heterogeneous Catalyst: Effect of Metal and Base components on Selectivity and Activity. “Catalysis of Organic Reactions”, p.67 – 76, (Stephen R. Schmidt, ed.), Taylor & Francis, Boca Raton, (2007). (S.D. Jackson, A.S. Canning, J.J. Gamman and S. Urquart)Strong Base Catalysts for Fine Chemical Synthesis: Relating Reaction Energetics to Base Strength. “Science and Technology in Catalysis 2006”, Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis, Vol 172, p.401 – 404, (K. Eguchi, M. Machida and I. Yamanaka, eds.), Elsevier, Tokyo, (2007). (S.D. Jackson, A.S. Canning, E. McLeod, and G.M. Parker)