The use of solvent resistant nanofiltration in the recycling of the Co-Jacobsen catalyst in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of epoxides

The use of solvent resistant nanofiltration (SRNF) provides an elegant alternative to the classical heterogenization of homogeneous catalysts. The SRNF-membrane separates the catalyst from the reaction mixture and allows products and solvent to permeate. This concept is now applied to the Co-Jacobsen catalyst in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of epoxides. A range of commercially available NF-membranes and three laboratory prepared membranes were subjected to filtration tests in diethylether, isopropanol and under solvent-free conditions. The membranes with the best performance were selected to recycle the Co-Jacobsen catalyst under catalytic conditions. Finally, the membrane reactor developed for the IPA-system, was optimized through the screening of different process parameters, including temperature, pressure and membrane thickness.