Periodic mesoporous organogold(I)silica as an active and reusable catalyst for alkyne hydration

A periodic mesoporous organogold(I)silica catalyst was synthesized by surfactant-directed co-condensation of Au[PPh2(CH2)(2)Si(OCH2CH3)(3)](2)Cl and (CH3CH2O)(3)SiPhSi(OCH2CH3)(3). The as-prepared Au-PPh2-PMO(Ph) contained ordered mesopore channels with both phenyl (Ph) group and Au(I) organometal homogeneously embedded in silica walls. Such catalyst exhibited higher activity than free Au(PPh3)Cl in hydration reactions of various terminal alkynes. This could be mainly attributed to the high surface area, the ordered mesoporous channels and the enhanced surface hydrophobility, which facilitated the diffusion and adsorption of reactants. Meanwhile, the unique coordination model between Au(I) and (PPh2) was also favorable for the alkyne hydration. Besides the high activity, the catalyst could be easily recycled and used repetitively owing to the high hydrothermal stability and the stabilized Au(I) active sites against leaching. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.