Biphasic Hydrosilylation in Ionic Liquids: A Process Set for Industrial Implementation

The biphasic hydrosilylation of 1-hexadecene with siloxane B9800 in a range of ionic liqs. is reported. Of the ionic liqs. tested, [C4py][BF4] and [C4-3-pic][BF4] offer the optimum compromise between activity and catalyst retention. Several platinum precatalysts were screened, of which K2PtCl4 and Pt(PPh3)4 were found to give the best performance; the former provides the highest activity, while the latter offers higher stability and recyclability, and depending on the conditions, both can afford either homogeneous or sol. nanoparticle catalysts as the active species. A no. of reaction parameters were varied, and the effects of oxygen, water, and chloride impurities on the reaction were studied. In addn., since nanoparticle catalysts were obsd., various strategies to stabilize nanoparticles were screened, but none of them resulted in a superior catalytic system.