The Co-Entrapment of a Homogeneous Catalyst and an Ionic Liquid by a Sol-gel Method: Recyclable Ionogel Hydrogenation Catalysts

Molecular hydrogenation catalysts have been co‐entrapped with the ionic liquid [Bmim]NTf2 inside a silica matrix by a sol–gel method. These catalytic ionogels have been compared to simple catalyst‐doped glasses, the parent homogeneous catalysts, commercial heterogeneous catalysts, and Rh‐doped mesoporous silica. The most active ionogel has been characterised by transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and solid state NMR before and after catalysis. The ionogel catalysts were found to be remarkably active, recyclable and resistant to chemical change. An ionogel protected catalyst: An ionic‐liquid‐modified sol–gel method for the synthesis of catalytic materials from homogeneous catalysts is described. The resultant materials (pictured here) are highly active, selective and leach resistant and exhibit excellent recycling. The catalyst is protected within the nano‐sized pores of the ionogel matrix.