Synthesis 2019; 51(14): 2829-2838
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1610260
short review
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Polydopamine: An Emerging Material in the Catalysis of Organic Transformations

Attila Kunfi
a   Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Magyar tudósok körútja 2., 1117 Budapest, Hungary   Email: london.gabor@ttk.mta.hu
b   Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Szeged, Dóm tér 8, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
,
Gábor London*
a   Institute of Organic Chemistry, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Magyar tudósok körútja 2., 1117 Budapest, Hungary   Email: london.gabor@ttk.mta.hu
› Author AffiliationsFinancial support from the National Research, Development and Innovation Office, Hungary (NKFIH Grant FK 123760) is gratefully acknowledged. G.L. acknowledges the János Bolyai Research Scholarship from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 28 June 2018

Accepted after revision: 30 July 2018

Publication Date:
05 September 2018 (online)

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Published as part of the special section on the Bürgenstock conference 2018

Abstract

Polydopamine, a ‘mussel-inspired’ polymer, has been explored extensively in materials science as a universal coating. However, as an easily available, stable and environmentally benign material, it has recently been discovered to demonstrate catalytic applications. In this short review, we briefly discuss the main approaches employing polydopamine in the catalysis of organic transformations. These include metal/polydopamine-type systems and metal-free approaches that exploit the acid/base properties of this versatile polymer.

1 Introduction

2 PDA and Metal Catalysis

2.1 Reduction of Nitroaryl Compounds to Anilines

2.2 Reduction of Carbonyl Compounds to Alcohols

2.3 Suzuki and Heck Coupling Reactions

2.4 Other Reactions Catalyzed by M/PDA-Type Systems

3 PDA as a Catalyst Itself

4 Conclusion

Key words

polydopamine - catalysis - reduction - cross-coupling - multicomponent reactions - metal-free catalysis - metal nanoparticle catalysis