Foams Stabilized by Aquivion ^TM PFSA: Application to Interfacial Catalysis for Cascade Reactions

Foams are attractive platforms for engineering gas–liquid–solid catalytic microreactors with enhanced triphasic contact. In this study, the foaming properties of surface-active AquivionTM perfluorosulfonic acid resin (AquivionTM PFSA) unraveled. Stable aqueous and non-aqueous foams prepared driven by hydrogen bond interactions between PFSA protic solvents (e.g., benzyl alcohol, aniline, water). light these unique properties, a foam system one-pot cascade deacetalization–hydrogenation reactions is designed. As proof concept, benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal converted into alcohol 84% overall yield at room temperature in presence Pd/SiO2 catalysts, whereas halved non-foam system. The reaction efficiency attributed to marked increase interfacial area preferential location centers gas–liquid interface.