Herein we report the synthesis of cellulose-based metal-loaded nano-sponges and their application as heterogeneous catalysts in organic synthesis. First, the combination in water solution of TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (TOCNF) with branched polyethyleneimine (bPEI) and citric acid (CA), and the thermal treatment of the resulting hydrogel, leads to the synthesis of an eco-safe micro- and nano-porous cellulose nano-sponge (CNS). Subsequently, by exploiting the metal chelation characteristics of CNS, already extensively investigated in the field of environmental decontamination, this material is successfully loaded with Cu (II) or Zn (II) metal ions. Efficiency and homogeneity of metal-loading is confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis with an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) detector and by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis. The resulting materials perform superbly as heterogeneous catalysts for promoting the reaction between aromatic aldehydes and alcohols in the synthesis of aromatic acetals, which play a fundamental role as intermediates in organic synthesis. Optimized conditions allow one to obtain conversions higher than 90% and almost complete selectivity toward acetal products, minimizing, and in some cases eliminating, the formation of carboxylic acid by-products. ICP-OES analysis of the reaction medium allows one to exclude any possible metal-ion release, confirming that catalysis undergoes under heterogeneous conditions. The new metal-loaded CNS can be re-used and recycled five times without losing their catalytic activity.
Keywords: acetalization; cellulose-based nanosponges; heterogeneous catalysis; metal-catalyzed reactions; nanocellulose hydrogels; sustainability.