Catalysis by hydrotalcites and related materials

Catalytic applications of Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH) or anionic clays have for a long time focused on the condensation reactions carried out with mixed oxides obtained by calcinations of Mg/Al LDH. However, the versatile character of materials prepared from these LDH exhibiting Lewis or Bronsted type basic sites has recently been underlined, and led us to contemplate extended applications in clean industrial processes. Moreover, due to their wide variety of compositions, LDH are also attractive precursors of multicomponent nanostructured catalysts. They give rise to supported metal catalysts whose metal support interaction and cooperation can be fine-tuned, as illustrated in pertinent case studies such as the hydrogenation of nitriles and the "one-pot" synthesis of methyl isobutyl ketone from acetone.