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New catechol-based porous polymers were synthesized and used as platforms for the heterogenization of molecular Cu complexes. The resulting Cu@CatMP-1 materials proved to be highly stable and performing catalysts for the oxidation of secondary alcohols with turnover numbers up to 6000, about 1 to 2 orders of magnitude higher than the current relevant state of the art, using catalyst loadings as low as 25 ppm of Cu. The solid catalyst proved to be recyclable for over 10 runs without detectable metal leaching and has been scaled to the gram scale. The coordination of Cu to catechol within the polymer has been evidenced by X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

An overview of scientific achievements at K.U. Leuven on the design and characterization of active sites in X and Y zeolites and on the development of adsorptive and catalytic processes in which these active sites are operated is provided. The historical development of this research area and the scientific progress are presented. Zeolite Y and ultrastabilized specimen present Bronsted and Lewis sites that can be operated in vapor and liquid phase hydrocarbon conversion processes, bifunctional catalysis, epoxidation and ring opening of epoxides. Examples of molecular shape selective catalysis with Y zeolites are presented. The redox chemistry of transition metal exchanged faujasites is understood in great detail and has been exploited in Wacker chemistry and water splitting in a photochemical-thermal cycle. Selective adsorbents were designed based on knowledge of cation siting in X and Y zeolites. The occlusion of coordination compounds in the faujasite supercages is a means of creating unique active sites. Catalytic oxidative properties of the enzymes can be mimicked by embedding zeozyme in a hydrophobic membrane.