Integrative chemistry toward the first spontaneous generation of gold nanoparticles within macrocellular polyHIPE supports (Au@polyHIPE) and their application to eosin reduction

Gold nanoparticles have been generated for the first time within open-cell macrocellular polyHIPE matrices, leading to new hybrid organic-inorganic catalytic supports labelled Au@polyHIPE. The overall synthesis can be realized with ease, as it is based on the spontaneous nucleation of gold nanoparticles. These new hybrid organic-inorganic materials have then been tested for heterogeneous catalysis, particularly for eosin Y reduction in the presence of NaBH4. In this reductive media the as-synthesized hybrid catalytic supports Au@polyHIPE exhibit a good activity. All the kinetic parameters are discussed in term of internal surface (porosity), external surface (shape), temperature and gold loading revealing a first order reaction. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.