Sustainable Asymmetric Catalysis on Wood Cellulose Nanofibers

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K22542
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0501:Physical chemistry, functional solid state chemistry, organic chemistry, polymers, organic materials, biomolecular chemistry, and related fields
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Kanomata Kyohei 大阪大学, 薬学研究科, 助教 (30880447)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-09-11 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: セルロースナノファイバー / ナノセルロース / 有機分子触媒

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) isolated from forest resources are expected to be a key material for realizing a low-carbon, recycling-oriented society. However, the functions derived from the chemical structure of CNFs have not yet been explored, and in this study, we worked on the creation of catalytic reactions using CNFs, using TO-CNFs with a densely carboxylated CNF interface and introducing basic sites. We have succeeded in multi-step sequential reactions in a single step. Chitosan nanofiber, a polysaccharide polymer similar to CNF, was also used as a base catalyst and combined with TO-CNF to enable continuous acid-base reactions.

Free Research Field

有機合成化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究不均一系触媒でありながら均一系触媒を凌駕する触媒機能を実現している。セルロースナノファイバーの結晶構造および化学構造が機能発現に本質的な役割を果たしており、従来の触媒を固定化するだけの固相担持触媒とは一線を画する。また本研究では資源的な利用価値が極めて高い再生産可能なバイオマスの新たな利用法を開拓しており、その成果は持続可能なモノづくりへの貢献が期待される。