Study of the importance of the catalysis in organic synthesis and industrial applications in Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) production

My PhD work thesis is divided in two sections, the first one is an academic part and the second one is an industrial part. The first part of my thesis represents a contribution to the program of the research group of the Department of Organic Chemistry of the University of Camerino, that has for a long time been studying the cerium chemistry and has dedicated itself particularly to the study of new methodologies involving the use of system CeCl3·7H2O with NaI. In many trials good results have been achieved and the procedures developed are characterized not only by the efficiency of the reactions, but also by chemoselective processes, by a good stereochemical control, by reacting available and inexpensive reagents and in some cases, from the possibility of recovering the catalytic promoter system used through simple procedures of work-up. One of the objectives of the modern organic synthesis concern the substitution of the chemical processes that use substances dangerous for the environment with eco-friendly methodologies. The system CeCl3·7H2O-NaI is inexpensive, non-toxic, very stable when exposed to water and air, it is able to work under solvent-free conditions and it can be recycled. This means that it is an excellent catalyst in various reactions, contributing in this way to the development of green chemistry, in response to the problem of environmental pollution caused by the difficulty eliminating of the organic solvents. This also means the development of new strategies for the synthesis of natural substances and unnatural with important biological activities, it represents a field of remarkable interest and in continuing development in organic chemistry. In the academic part of this work, we are employed about the synthesis of (+)-Furanomycin, specifically we proposed a new short synthesis of a useful intermediate, a 1,2-diprotected 2-amino-pent-4-ene-1,3-diol, starting from the inexpensive natural amino acid L-serine, and via a Gamer-type aldehyde. In the last part, that is completely different, is performed in Goldenplast spa. This company is located in Potenza Picena (MC) and it works in the manufacturing of polymer blend for footwear market and grain as infill in artificial turf. Goldenplast spa was founded in 1993 by Germano Ercoli, the managing director, Gianni Perozzi, the technical manager and Massimo Vallesi, the sales manager, with the scope of thermoplastic, SBS compounds production. The production started in 1994. The scope of Goldenplast spa is to provide footwear industry with solutions for moulding applications of soles. During its activity, in fact, Goldenplast spa has periodically created and introduced on the market new materials which has opened to customers new work opportunities and new markets. This innovating attitude is recognised both from Goldenplast's customers and competitors. From 1996, with the first innovation material, called Superlight®, a low density thermoplastic rubber compound, the company introduced many other new materials up to produce a grain used like infill in artificial football fields. In 2004 this grade called Runplast® and in 2008 Runplast-2S®, with an improving formulation awards with two stars FIFA homologation. Cause the increasing demand of high performance compounds like GPU and XP series, two family of TPU based thermoplastic rubber compounds modified with rubber resins, in 2008, the management takes decision to produce on your own TPU (Thermoplastic Poly Urethane), with the commercial name HIPUR® that begun in first months of 2009. Nowadays, Goldenplast spa it's able to achieve a productive capacity about 150 tons a day and about 50% of this material is exported all over the world. When plant's management begun to work on TPU project, they understood the importance they need external resources to develop this new business, completely different to the existing work activity done until now. Since the proximity of the University of Camerino, they thought to propose a long-range collaboration to solve possible problems and find out new solutions. Union among university and industry lead to a doctorate with main purpose to follow the new project until the completion and implementation in the factory. To sum up, the second part of this PhD thesis have to be understood like not classical research approach, but in this case like a problem solving approach.