Nano-catalysts and Nano-technologies for Green Organic Synthesis

Dear Colleagues,

Transition-metal nanoparticles are attracting a great deal of attention in almost any scientific and technological field. An increasing interest is nowadays devoted to the high activity and selectivity of nanocatalysts which allow to develop greener and waste-minimized processes. In addition, nanoparticles are suitable catalysts for processes carried out in neoteric eco-friendly solvents (viz. ionic liquids, supercritical fluids, fluorous phases, water etc.). For these reasons, green chemistry can play a prominent role in guiding the development of nanotechnology to provide the maximum benefit of these products for society and the environment. This Special Issue of Molecules has the objective to present articles dealing with the use of nanocatalysts and/or nanotechnologies in a wide range of catalytic organic reactions, ranging from the traditional carbon-carbon or carbon-heteroatom bond forming reactions (e.g. Heck, Suzuki, Stille, Sonogashira, Ullmann, Glodberg and so on) to the more innovative synthetic approaches based on the green chemistry principles (atom-economy, dematerialization, energy saving, raw material diversification, green solvents etc.) such as for example detoxification of PCBs, fixation of CO2 and so on. Multidisciplinary studies providing a bird-view of the nanocatalyst features, including its development/synthesis and its analytical chemical & morphological characterization, as well as organic synthesis application and structure-performance level correlations, are strongly encouraged.

Nicola Cioffi, Ph. D.
Prof. Dr. Angelo Nacci
Guest Editors