This thesis outlines work carried out in the last three years concerning the development of novel, atom-economic, catalytic syntheses of amide bonds, determination of the ranges of these reactions through substrate screenings and investigations into the mechanisms by which the reactions are operating. In Chapter 1, an introduction to amide bonds is given, after which a discussion on the synthesis of amide bonds is presented, covering direct coupling methods, enzymatic methods and both non-metal catalysts and metal catalysts used for amide bond synthesis. In the Results and Discussion section, an iron catalysed coupling of nitriles and amines is presented in Chapter 2. In Chapter 3, firstly the development of an indium and zinc catalysed rearrangement of aldoximes into primary amides is discussed, followed by development of a novel, nickel catalysed coupling of aldehydes and amines. Detailed mechanistic studies using 18O labelled substrates are then presented for both of these reactions. Chapter 4 details work on a novel, hydroxylamine hydrochloride catalysed transamidation of primary amides with amines, including 1H NMR studies to attempt to elucidate the mechanism of the reaction. Finally, in Chapter 5, work investigating the direct coupling of unactivated carboxylic acids and amines is discussed, followed by an investigation into suitable catalysts to improve the efficiency of the reaction and a comparison of the rates in the catalysed and uncatalysed reactions for a wide range of substrates. In the Results and Discussion section, an iron catalysed coupling of nitriles and amines is presented in Chapter 2. In Chapter 3, firstly the development of an indium and zinc catalysed rearrangement of aldoximes into primary amides is discussed, followed by development of a novel, nickel catalysed coupling of aldehydes and amines. Detailed mechanistic studies using 18O labelled substrates are then presented for both of these reactions. Chapter 4 details work on a novel, hydroxylamine hydrochloride catalysed transamidation of primary amides with amines, including 1H NMR studies to attempt to elucidate the mechanism of the reaction. Finally, in Chapter 5, work investigating the direct coupling of unactivated carboxylic acids and amines is discussed, followed by an investigation into suitable catalysts to improve the efficiency of the reaction and a comparison of the rates in the catalysed and uncatalysed reactions for a wide range of substrates.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo a síntese e caracterização de sílicas mesoporosas suportadas com níquel para atuarem como catalisadores na hidrogenação de óleos vegetais. Foram escolhidas as sílicas mesoporosas ordenadas do tipo SBA-15 e FDU-1, sintetizadas a partir de TEOS como fonte de sílica e copolímeros triblocos como agentes direcionadores de estrutura em meio HCl. O Ni(NO3)2.6H2O foi utilizado como fonte de metal, cuja solução aquosa com a concentração de níquel desejada foi adicionada à sílica antes da remoção do molde polimérico, originando os precursores dos catalisadores. Após a impregnação, as amostras foram submetidas à calcinação sob atmosfera de ar, gerando o precursor na forma de óxido que ao ser tratado com H2 é reduzido Nio , forma ativa do catalisador. As técnicas de termogravimetria, termogravimetria derivada, difração de raios X a alto e baixo ângulo, isotermas de adsorção de nitrogênio e absorção atômica foram empregadas para a caracterização destes materiais. A TG/DTG foi utilizada para a simulação das melhores condições de calcinação/redução. As amostras foram calcinadas em um forno tubular com controlador de temperatura. Os ensaios de DRX confirmaram a fase NiO após calcinação e a fase Nio na redução, por termogravimetria. A difração por raios X, confirmou a presença da fase Ni . Os resultados dos ensaios de difração de raios X a baixo ângulo indicaram que com teores de Ni de até 10%, não há modificação na estrutura dos materiais SBA-15 e FDU-1. As isotermas de adsorção de nitrogênio são do tipo IV, características de materiais mesoporosos. Os teores de níquel foram medidos por absorção atômica. Os valores de áreas superficiais dos materiais com 10% de Ni foram superiores a 300 m2 /g, sugerindo que tais materiais são promissores para prosseguir com os estudos e efetivamente testá-los como catalisadores na hidrogenação de óleos vegetais / This work aimed at the synthesis and characterization of mesoporous silica supported with nickel to act as catalysts in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils. The SBA-15 and FDU-1 were chosen as mesoporous ordered silica types, synthesized from TEOS as a source of silica and tribloco copolymers as molded agents of the structure in the midst HCl. The Ni(NO3)2.6H2O was used as a source of metal, whose aqueous solution with the desired concentration of nickel has been added to the silica before the removal of mold polymer, forming the catalytic precursors. After impregnation, the samples were subjected to calcination under air atmosphere, creating the precursor in the oxided form which being treated with H2 is reduced to Nio , active form of the catalyst. The TG techniques, thermogravimetric derived, X-ray diffraction at high and low angles, nitrogen adsorption isotherms, and atomic absorption spectrometry were used to characterize these materials. The TG / DTG were used for the simulation of best calcination / reduction conditions. The samples were calcined in a tubular oven with temperature controller. The DRX tests confirmed the NiO phase after calcination and Nio phase in the reduction by TG. The SAXS results indicated that Ni levels up to 10% do not change the material structures such as SBA-15 and FDU-1. The nitrogen adsorption isotherms are the IV type, characteristics of mesoporous materials . The nickel levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Surface area values for materials with Ni10% were greater than 300 m2 / g, suggesting that such materials are promising to proceed with the studies and test them effectively as catalysts in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils

Este trabalho teve como objetivo a síntese e caracterização de sílicas mesoporosas suportadas com níquel para atuarem como catalisadores na hidrogenação de óleos vegetais. Foram escolhidas as sílicas mesoporosas ordenadas do tipo SBA-15 e FDU-1, sintetizadas a partir de TEOS como fonte de sílica e copolímeros triblocos como agentes direcionadores de estrutura em meio HCl. O Ni(NO3)2.6H2O foi utilizado como fonte de metal, cuja solução aquosa com a concentração de níquel desejada foi adicionada à sílica antes da remoção do molde polimérico, originando os precursores dos catalisadores. Após a impregnação, as amostras foram submetidas à calcinação sob atmosfera de ar, gerando o precursor na forma de óxido que ao ser tratado com H2 é reduzido Nio , forma ativa do catalisador. As técnicas de termogravimetria, termogravimetria derivada, difração de raios X a alto e baixo ângulo, isotermas de adsorção de nitrogênio e absorção atômica foram empregadas para a caracterização destes materiais. A TG/DTG foi utilizada para a simulação das melhores condições de calcinação/redução. As amostras foram calcinadas em um forno tubular com controlador de temperatura. Os ensaios de DRX confirmaram a fase NiO após calcinação e a fase Nio na redução, por termogravimetria. A difração por raios X, confirmou a presença da fase Ni . Os resultados dos ensaios de difração de raios X a baixo ângulo indicaram que com teores de Ni de até 10%, não há modificação na estrutura dos materiais SBA-15 e FDU-1. As isotermas de adsorção de nitrogênio são do tipo IV, características de materiais mesoporosos. Os teores de níquel foram medidos por absorção atômica. Os valores de áreas superficiais dos materiais com 10% de Ni foram superiores a 300 m2 /g, sugerindo que tais materiais são promissores para prosseguir com os estudos e efetivamente testá-los como catalisadores na hidrogenação de óleos vegetais / This work aimed at the synthesis and characterization of mesoporous silica supported with nickel to act as catalysts in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils. The SBA-15 and FDU-1 were chosen as mesoporous ordered silica types, synthesized from TEOS as a source of silica and tribloco copolymers as molded agents of the structure in the midst HCl. The Ni(NO3)2.6H2O was used as a source of metal, whose aqueous solution with the desired concentration of nickel has been added to the silica before the removal of mold polymer, forming the catalytic precursors. After impregnation, the samples were subjected to calcination under air atmosphere, creating the precursor in the oxided form which being treated with H2 is reduced to Nio , active form of the catalyst. The TG techniques, thermogravimetric derived, X-ray diffraction at high and low angles, nitrogen adsorption isotherms, and atomic absorption spectrometry were used to characterize these materials. The TG / DTG were used for the simulation of best calcination / reduction conditions. The samples were calcined in a tubular oven with temperature controller. The DRX tests confirmed the NiO phase after calcination and Nio phase in the reduction by TG. The SAXS results indicated that Ni levels up to 10% do not change the material structures such as SBA-15 and FDU-1. The nitrogen adsorption isotherms are the IV type, characteristics of mesoporous materials . The nickel levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Surface area values for materials with Ni10% were greater than 300 m2 / g, suggesting that such materials are promising to proceed with the studies and test them effectively as catalysts in the hydrogenation of vegetable oils