Directed sorting method for synthesis of supported metal catalysts for methylcyclohexane dehydrogenation

The synthesis and analysis of inorganic material combinatorial libraries by the directed sorting split-pool bead method was demonstrated at the proof-of-concept level. The directed sorting method used matrix algorithms towards the synthesis of bead based libraries by treating each bead as a member of a row or column of a given matrix. Computer simulations and pen-and-paper approaches of the sorting process were used to assess library diversity. Directed sorting split-pool metal loaded libraries were synthesized by adsorbing metal standards (Pt, Cu, and Ni in HCl) onto 2 mg porous γ-alumina beads in 96 or 384 wellplates. The bead compositions were analyzed for catalytic activity using methylcyclohexane dehydrogenation to toluene as a probe reaction. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 230th ACS National Meeting (Washington, DC 8/28/2005-9/1/2005).