CURRY SPICE FOUND TO ACCELERATE THE SILANE CROSS-LINKING REACTION!
A study by a group of Yamaguchi University researchers related that turmeric, a spice that is a key ingredient in curry dishes, contains a potent catalytic agent for silane cross-linking reactions.
Highlights
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Curcuminoid is one of the primary yellow polyphenol ingredients in turmeric. Prof. ADACHI Kenta and his colleagues from Yamaguchi University have recently discovered that metal-curcuminoid complexes act as highly active catalysts in the water-crosslinking reaction of the polyalkoxysilanes. This finding should be advantageous for reactive silicone resin systems, curable at room temperature, in the industry as adhesives or paints.
Organotin compounds (OTCs) are often used as a silane cross-linking catalyst to accelerate the water-cross-linking reaction. However, it is well-known that OTCs have toxicity and biological activity and indeed act as an endocrine disrupter in animals and induce masculinization (imposex) by increasing testosterone levels in different species of female gastropods. For instance, domestic use of OTCs has been restricted by the law in Japan, since 1990. Using non-toxic catalysts for the reactive resin is preferred for the global environment.
”We believe that metal-curcuminoid complexes will be useful as alternative catalysts to toxic organotin compounds,” said co-author Shohei Tanaka, a doctoral candidate in Adachi’s group who focused on catalyst research.
The achievement suggests the design and development of new environmental catalysts with high performance for the silane water-crosslinking reaction in polymer chemistry.
Figure 1 Cross-linked polyalkoxysilanes via hydrolysis and condensation reactions and their applications
More information:
Shohei Tanaka, Mina Imamura, and Kenta Adachi, “Enhancing Catalytic Activity of Copper (II) Complexes by Curcuminoid as Electron-Withdrawing Ligand for Silane Water-Crosslinking Reaction: A Joint Experimental and Theoretical Study.” J. Sol-Gel Sci. Technol., 102, 322–334 (2022) (Published: 31 March 2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-022-05773-5