Recent Studies on Alkoxides Grafted Mesoporous Silica Materials as Catalysts in Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley Reductions: A Review

This review provides a comprehensive survey of the preparation and application of homogeneous and heterogeneous boron and indium alkoxide catalysts and typical Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) reduction process techniques that are usually employed in the production of alcohol. A significant number of preparation and application methods are now available for various heterogeneous catalysts synthesized with some mesoporous silica nanoparticles. In this review article, preparation, characterization, application and advantages of boron and indium alkoxides grafted metal-free mesoporous heterogeneous catalysts are discussed. Also, recent research on applying mesoporous MCM-41 and SBA-15 to heterogeneous catalysis in synthesizing heterogeneous MPV catalysts has been reviewed. The potential heterogeneous catalysts that could be derived from the grafting of alkoxides on mesoporous materials, methods of preparing solid boron and indium alkoxide catalysts, as well as reusability and leaching analysis are discussed in detail. We think that the development of new, environmentally friendly, efficient, and selective catalytic procedures for carbonyl reduction and alcohol formation, represents a fundamental research aim in synthetic chemistry. In this context, this review can make an important contribution to organic synthesis.