Cover Feature: Is a Catalyst Always Needed? The Case of the Knoevenagel Reaction with Malononitrile (ChemCatChem 18/2022). Issue 18 (30th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Campisciano, Vincenzo; Giacalone, Francesco; Gruttadauria, Michelangelo
• Is Part Of: ChemCatChem. Volume 14:Issue 18(2022)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-08-30
• Subjects: catalysis -- heterogeneous catalysis -- materials science -- supported catalysis -- sustainable chemistry; Catalysis -- Periodicals; 541.39505
• DOI: 10.1002/cctc.202201042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1867-3880

Abstract

Abstract : The Cover Feature wants to remember a play, Shakespeare's Hamlet, particularly the apex of the tragedy "To be or not to be", the now famous Hamletic doubt. The same doubt arises when studying the Knoevenagel reaction between aromatic aldehydes and malononitrile. Paraphrasing the play, we could recite "To catalyse or not to catalyse, that is the question. Whether it is nobler to have a catalyst that speeds up a reaction or it is cheaper for the reaction to proceed on its own". In their Perspective, M. Gruttadauria and co‐workers show that the above reaction indeed raises a Hamletic doubt: is there a need for a catalyst? What is clear is that the reaction can take place under mild conditions without the need of a catalyst. From a sustainable viewpoint the questions are: is it useful to increase the rate of a reaction that already occurs under mild conditions? is it useful to spend resources in complex catalytic systems for such reaction? More information can be found in the Perspective by M. Gruttadauria and co‐workers .