The Pauson-Khand reaction, forming pentanones from unsaturated alkenes or alkynes and carbon monoxide, is an important reaction for the petrochemical industry. This reaction is typically catalysed by cobalt-containing catalysts; however, high pressures of the CO gas used in the reaction are needed, which can be costly.

In their Dalton Transactions Perspective article, Young Keun Chung and Ji Hoon Park (Seoul National University, South Korea) describe the use of nanoparticles containing both cobalt and rhodium as catalysts for this reaction and similar reactions such as hydroformylation and aminocarbonylation. The advantage these nanoparticles have over molecular catalysts is their high suface to volume ratio, which means that the reactions can be catalysed without the need for high gas pressures.

 

The use of nanoparticles of this type for catalysis looks very promising, with future plans involving the introduction of different metals into the nanoparticles. 'Using new combinations of transition metals and their syngergistic effects, we envisage the development of new catalysts for new catalytic, multicomponent reactions', says Chung.