Combinatorial approaches as a component of high-throughput experimentation (HTE) in catalysis research

• Published in: Biotechnology and bioengineering Vol. 61; no. 4; pp. 203 - 216
• Main Authors: Newsam, John M., Schüth, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 1999
• Subjects: Catalysis; Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques - methods; high-throughput experimentation; Materials Testing; Models, Molecular; Peptide Library
• ISSN: 0006-3592; 1097-0290
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0290(1998)61:4<203::AID-CC3>3.0.CO;2-V

We consider the application of high‐throughput experimentation (HTE), including combinatorial methods, to catalyst discovery and early‐phase optimization. While combinatorial‐ and parallel‐testing methods have an already substantial history in catalysis, recent work by several groups promises significant efficiency gains. In molecular catalysis, progress is noted in library design, library synthesis by pooled, parallel, and discrete formats, catalyst testing and reaction optimization; the prime constraint for organometallic catalysts is the limited scope of synthesis procedures for non‐peptide‐based ligand libraries. Routes described for the synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts include hydrothermal synthesis, arraying of solution precursors, automated impregnation and precipitation, and arraying of solid precursors. The key challenge in applying HTE to heterogeneous catalysis is testing; we distinguish here between Stage 1, or “discovery” testing and Stage 2, optimization testing, and describe techniques with potential in each case. Recent examples from the literature and our own work are used to illustrate these principles and the prospects for HTE applied to catalysis. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng (Comb Chem) 61:203–216, 1998/1999.