Molybdenum Schiff base-polyoxometalate hybrid compound: A heterogeneous catalyst for alkene epoxidation with tert-BuOOH

The hybrid compound consisting of molybdenum(salen) [salen = N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylnediamine] complex covalently linked to a lacunary Keggin-type polyoxometalate, K₈[SiW₁₁O₃₉] (POM), was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ¹H NMR and diffuse reflectance UV–Vis spectroscopic methods and BET analysis. The complex, [Mo(O)₂(salen)–POM], was studied, for the first time, in the epoxidation of various alkenes with tert-BuOOH and in 1,2-dichloroethane as solvent. This catalyst can catalyze epoxidation of various olefins including non-activated terminal olefins. The effect of the other parameters such as solvent, oxidant and temperature on the epoxidation of cyclooctene was also investigated. The interesting characteristic of this catalyst is that, in addition to being a heterogeneous catalyst, it gives higher yields towards epoxidation of olefins in comparison to the corresponding homogeneous [Mo(O)₂(salen)] complex.     

Partial oxidation of propylene to propylene oxide over a neutral gold trimer in the gas phase: a density functional theory study

We report a B3LYP study of a novel mechanism for propylene epoxidation using H(2) and O(2) on a neutral Au(3) cluster, including full thermodynamics and pre-exponential factors. A side-on O(2) adsorption on Au(3) is followed by dissociative addition of H(2) across one of the Au-O bonds (DeltaE(act) = 2.2 kcal/mol), forming a hydroperoxy intermediate (OOH) and a lone H atom situated on the Au(3) cluster. The more electrophilic O atom (proximal to the Au) of the Au-OOH group attacks the C=C of an approaching propylene to form propylene oxide (PO) with an activation barrier of 19.6 kcal/mol. We predict the PO desorption energy from the Au(3) cluster with residual OH and H to be 11.5 kcal/mol. The catalytic cycle can be closed in two different ways. In the first subpathway, OH and H, hosted by the same terminal Au atom, combine to form water (DeltaE(act) = 26.5 kcal/mol). We attribute rather a high activation barrier of this step to the breaking of the partial bond between the H atom and the central Au atom in the transition state. Upon water desorption (DeltaE(des) = 9.9 kcal/mol), the Au(3) is regenerated (closure). In the second subpathway, H(2) is added across the Au-OH bond to form water and another Au-H bond (DeltaE(act) = 22.6 kcal/mol). Water spontaneously desorbs to form an obtuse angle Au(3) dihydride, with one H atom on the terminal Au atom and the other bridging the same terminal Au atom and the central Au atom. A slightly activated rearrangement to a symmetric triangular Au(3) intermediate with two equivalent Au-H bonds, addition of O(2) into the Au-H bond, and rotation reforms the hydroperoxy intermediate in the main cycle. On the basis of the DeltaG(act), which contains contribution from both pre-exponetial factor and activation energy, we identify the propylene epoxidation step as the actual rate-determining step (RDS) in both the pathways. The activation barrier of the RDS (epoxidation step: DeltaE(act) = 19.6 kcal/mol) is in the same range as that in the published computationally investigated olefin epoxidation mechanisms involving Ti sites (without Au involved) indicating that isolated Au clusters and possibly Au clusters on non-Ti supports can be active for gas-phase partial oxidation, even though cooperative mechanisms involving Au clusters/Ti-based-supports may be favored.     

Evidence of defect-promoted reactivity for epoxidation of propylene in titanosilicate (TS-1) catalysts: a DFT study

Our density functional theory study of hydroperoxy (OOH) intermediates on various model titanosilicalite (TS-1) Ti centers explores how microstructural aspects of Ti sites effect propylene epoxidation reactivity and shows that Ti sites located adjacent to Si vacancies in the TS-1 lattice are more reactive than fully coordinated Ti sites, which we find do not react at all. We show that propylene epoxidation near a Si-vacancy occurs through a sequential pathway where H(2)O(2) first forms a hydroperoxy intermediate Ti-OOH (15.4 kcal/mol activation energy) and then reacts with propylene by proximal oxygen abstraction (9.3 kcal/mol activation energy). The abstraction step is greatly facilitated through a simultaneous hydride transfer involving neighboring terminal silanol groups arising from the Si vacancy. The transition state for this step exhibits 6-fold oxygen coordination on Ti, and we conclude that the less constrained environment of Ti adjacent to a vacancy accounts for greater transition state stability by allowing relaxation to a more octahedral geometry. These results also show that the reactive hydroperoxy intermediates are generally characterized by smaller electron populations on the proximal oxygen atom compared to nonreactive intermediates and greater O-O polarization--providing a potential means of computationally screening novel titanosilicate structures for epoxidation reactivity.     

Comparison of the catalytic activity of Au3, Au4+, Au5, and Au5- in the gas-phase reaction of H2 and O2 to form hydrogen peroxide: a density functional theory investigation

We report a detailed density functional theory (B3LYP) analysis of the gas-phase H2O2 formation from H2 and O2 on Au3, Au4+, Au5, and Au5-. We find that H2, which interacts only weakly with the Au clusters, is dissociatively added across the Au-O bond, upon interaction with AunO2. One H atom is captured by the adsorbed O2 to form the hydroperoxy intermediate (OOH), while the other H atom is captured by the Au atom. Once formed, the hydroperoxy intermediate acts as a precursor for the closed-loop catalytic cycle. An important common feature of all the pathways is that the rate-determining step of the catalytic cycle is the second H2 addition to form H2O2. The H2O2 desorption is followed by O2 addition to AunH2 to form the hydroperoxy intermediate, thus leading to the closure of the cycle. On the basis of the Gibbs free energy of activation, out of these four clusters, Au4+ is most active for the formation of the H2O2. The 0 K electronic energy of activation and the DeltaGact at the standard conditions are 12.6 and 16.6 kcal/mol respectively. The natural bond orbital charge analysis suggests that the Au clusters remain positively charged (oxidic) in almost all the stages of the cycle. This is interesting in the context of the recent experimental evidence for the activity of cationic Au in CO oxidation and water-gas shift catalysts. We have also found preliminary evidence for a correlation between the activation barrier for the first H2 addition and the O2 binding energy on the Au cluster. It suggests that the minimum activation barrier for the first H2 addition is expected for the Au clusters with 7.0-9.0 kcal/mol O2 binding energy, i.e., in the midrange of the expected interaction energy. This represents a balance between more favorable H2 dissociation when the Aun-O2 interaction is weaker and high O2 coverage when the interaction is stronger. On the basis of this work, we predict that the hydroperoxy intermediate formation can be both thermodynamically and kinetically viable only in a narrow range of the O2 binding energy (10.0-12.0 kcal/mol)-a useful estimate for computationally screening Au-cluster-based catalysts. We also show that a competitive channel for the OOH desorption exists. Thus, in propylene epoxidation both OOH radicals and H2O2 can attack the active Ti in/on the Au/TS-1 and generate the Ti-OOH sites, which can convert propylene to propylene oxide.     

Polyoxometalate catalysts: toward the development of green H2O2-based epoxidation systems

This paper describes the development of green, efficient H(2)O(2)-based epoxidation systems with three kinds of polyoxometalates: (i) a dinuclear peroxotungstate [W(2)O(3)(O(2))(4)(H(2)O)(2)](2-) (I), (ii) a divacant lacunary polyoxotungstate [gamma-SiW(10)O(34)(H(2)O)(2)]4 (II), (iii) and a divanadium-substituted polyoxotungstate [gamma-1,2-H(2)SiV(2)W(10)O(40)](4-) (III). The highly chemo-, regio-, and diastereoselective epoxidation of various allylic alcohols with only 1 equiv H(2)O(2) in water can be efficiently catalyzed by potassium salt of I (K-I). The catalyst K-I can be recycled with the retention of the catalytic performance. Protonation of a divacant lacunary polyoxotungstate [gamma-SiW(10)O(36)](8-) gives [gamma-SiW(10)O(34)(H(2)O)(2)](4-) (II) with two aquo ligands. The tetra-n-butylammonium salt of II (TBA-II) catalyzes epoxidation of common olefins including propylene with >or=99% selectivity to epoxide and >or=99% efficiency of H(2)O(2) utilization. The bis(mu-hydroxo)bridged dioxovanadium site in [gamma-1,2-H(2)SiV(2)W(10)O(40)](4-) (III) can also efficiently catalyze epoxidation of a variety of olefins with 1 equiv H(2)O(2). Notably, the system with III shows unique stereospecificity, diastereoselectivity, and regioselectivity for the epoxidation of cis/trans olefins, 3-substituted cyclohexenes, and nonconjugated dienes, respectively, which are quite different from those reported for epoxidation systems up to now. Furthermore, the heterogenization of the mentioned polyoxometalates can be achieved by using ionic liquid-modified SiO(2) as a support without loss of catalytic performance.     

A quantum chemical study of comparison of various propylene epoxidation mechanisms using H2O2 and TS-1 Catalyst

We present a comparison of the following prominent propylene epoxidation mechanisms using H2O2/TS-1 at a consistent density functional theory (DFT) method: (1) the Sinclair and Catlow mechanism on tripodal site through Ti-OOH species, (2) the Vayssilov and van Santen mechanism on tetrapodal site without Ti-OOH formation, (3) the Munakata et al. mechanism involving peroxy (Ti-O-O-Si) species, (4) the defect site mechanism with a partial silanol nest, and (5) the defect site mechanism with a full silanol nest. We have reproduced the previously published (ethylene epoxidation) pathways (1-3) for propylene epoxidation using larger and SiH3-terminated cluster models of the T-6 crystallographic site of TS-1. Mechanism 5 is a new mechanism reported here for the first time. The use of a consistent level of theory for all the pathways allows for the first time a meaningful comparison of the energetics representing the aforementioned pathways. We have rigorously identified the important reaction intermediates and transition states and carried out a detailed thermochemical analysis at 298.15 K and 1 atm. On the basis of the Gibbs free energy of activation, the Sinclair and Catlow mechanism (Delta G(act) = 7.9 kcal/mol) is the energetically most favorable mechanism, which is, however, likely to operate on the external surface of TS-1 due to the tripodal nature of the Ti site in their model. The newly reported defect site mechanism (with a full silanol nest) is a competitive propylene epoxidation mechanism. There are two main steps: (1) hydroperoxy formation (Delta G(act) = 8.9 kcal/mol) and (2) propylene epoxidation (Delta G(act) = 4.6 kcal/mol). This mechanism is likely to represent the chemistry occurring inside the TS-1 pores in the liquid-phase epoxidation (H2O2/TS-1) process and could operate in direct gas-phase epoxidation (H2/O2/Au/TS-1) as well. If only the propylene epoxidation step is considered, then the Munakata peroxo intermediate (Si-O-O-Ti) is the most reactive intermediate, which can epoxidize propylene with a negligible activation barrier. However, formation of the Munakata intermediate is a very activated step (Delta G(act) = 19.8 kcal/mol). We also explain the trends in the activation barriers in different mechanisms using geometric and electronic features such as orientation of adsorbed H2O2 and propylene, hydrogen bonding, O1-Ti bond distance in the Ti-O1-O2-H intermediate, and O1-O2 stretching in the transition state. Implications of different Ti site models are also discussed in light of the nature of external/internal and nondefect/defect sites of TS-1.     

Computational modeling of di-transition-metal-substituted gamma-keggin polyoxometalate anions. Structural refinement of the protonated divacant lacunary silicodecatungstate

The B3LYP density functional method has been validated for the di-Mn-substituted gamma-Keggin polyoxometalate (POM) anion, [(SiO4)MnIII2(OH)2W10O32]4-, and for the divacant lacunary silicodecatungastate, gamma-[(SiO4)W10O32]8-. This approach was shown to adequately describe the geometries of [(SiO4)MnIII2(OH)2W10O32]4- and gamma-[(SiO4)W10O32]8. Three different geometrical models, "full", "medium", and "small", for Mn2-gamma-Keggin have also been validated. It was shown that the medium [(SiO4)MnIII2(OH)2W6O24H8]4- model, as well as small [(SiO4)MnIII2(OH)2W4O18H10]2- model, preserves structural features of the full system, [(SiO4)MnIII2(OH)2W10O32]4-. However, the small model distorts the charge distribution at the "active site" of the system and should be used with caution. The same computational approach was employed to elucidate the structure of the di-Fe-substituted gamma-Keggin POM. The structure of the acidic (tetra-protonated form) of lacunary POM, gamma-[(SiO4)W10O32H4]4-, was shown to be gamma-[(SiO4)W10O28(OH)4]4- with four terminal hydroxo ligands, rather than gamma-[(SiO4)W10O30(H2O)2]4- with two aqua and two oxo(terminal) ligands as reported by Mizuno and co-workers (Science 2003, 300, 964). The observed and calculated asymmetry in the W-O(terminal) bond distances of gamma-[(SiO4)W10O32H4]4- is explained in terms of the existence of O1H1...O2H2 and O4H4...O3H3 hydrogen-bonding patterns in the gamma-[(SiO4)W10O28(OH)4]4- structure.     

Mono-lacunary PrIII-Polyoxotungstate： Epoxidation of Alkenes with Unusual Selectivity

The utilization of polyoxometalates (POMs) or their derivatives as homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts in alkene epoxidation is a subject of considerable research activity[1]. The limitation to the use of POMs in these catalytic reactions is either their relatively low selectivity in epoxide formation or applicability for a rather limited type of alkenes. Therefore, it would be beneficial if the catalysts bear high selectivity for epoxidation and are applicable for a rather wide variety of alkenes, which is desirable in industrial processes and also vital for the selection of an ideal catalyst[2]. In search for an efficient and practical epoxidation method to utilize aqueous H2O2 as terminal oxidant, we focus on the rare-earth complexes with lacunary POM ligands.     

Lacunary Keggin Polyoxotungstate as Reaction-controlled Phase-transfer Catalyst for Catalytic Epoxidation of Olefins

A new reaction-controlled phase-transfer catalyst system, lacunary Keggin polyoxotungstate [C7H7N(CH3)3]9PW9O34 has been synthesized and used for catalytic epoxidation of olefins with H2O2 as the oxidant. Infrared spectra were used to analyze the behavior of the phase transfer of catalyst. In this system, the catalyst not only can act as homogeneous catalyst but also as heterogeneous catalyst to be easily filtered and reused. The epoxidarion reaction is clean and exhibits high conversion and selectivity as well as excellent catalyst stability.     

The self-assembly mechanism of the Lindqvist anion [W(6)O(19)](2-) in aqueous solution: a density functional theory study

The formation mechanism is always a fundamental and confused issue for polyoxometalate chemistry. Two formation mechanisms (M1 and M2) of the Lindqvist anion [W(6)O(19)](2-) have been adopted to investigate it's self-assembly reaction pathways at a density functional theory (DFT) level. The potential energy surfaces reveal that both the mechanisms are thermodynamically favorable and overall barrierless at room temperature, but M2 is slightly dominant to M1. The formation of the pentanuclear species [W(5)O(16)](2-) and [W(5)O(15)(OH)](-) are recognized as the rate-determining steps in the whole assembly polymerization processes. These two steps involve the highest energy barriers with 30.48 kcal mol(-1) and 28.90 kcal mol(-1), respectively, for M1 and M2. [W(4)O(13)](2-) and [W(4)O(12)(OH)](-) are proved to be the most stable building blocks. In addition, DFT results reveal that the formation of [W(3)O(10)](2-) experiences a lower barrier along the chain channel.     

A low dielectric constant polyimide/polyoxometalate composite

A silane‐modified mono‐lacunary Keggin‐type polyoxometalate (POM), (Bu₄N)₄[SiW₁₁O₃₉{(CH₂?CH? Si)₂O}] (SiW₁₁? CH?CH₂), was obtained by reaction of vinyltrimethoxysilane with K₈(SiW₁₁O₃₉) in acidic MeCN/H₂O mixed solutions. Then, the modified polyoxometalate was physically blended with the pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA)‐4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA) poly(amic acid) and the blends were thermally imidized to form polyimide/ polyoxometalate composites. The X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicates that the polyoxometalate clusters cannot form crystalline structures in the composite, suggesting that the blending leads to improved compatibility between the polymer matrix and the modified polyoxometalate. The EDS (W‐mapping) studies on the composite films reveal that the polyoxometalate clusters are well dispersed in the polyimide matrix. The physical incorporation of modified POM into polyimide remarkably reduced the dielectric constant of the latter from 3.29 to 2.05 when 20 wt% of SiW₁₁? CH?CH₂ was used. Besides, the addition of the modified POM into polyimide increased the storage modulus of polyimide without severely affecting its thermal properties. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modeling reactive metal oxides. Kinetics,thermodynamics, and mechanism of M(3) cap isomerization in polyoxometalates

An investigation of M(3)O(13) unit ("M(3) cap") isomerization in the classical polytungstodiphosphates alpha- and beta-P(2)W(18)O(62)(6)(-) has been undertaken because cap isomerism is an important and structurally well-studied phenomenon in many polyoxometalate families. The relative thermodynamic stabilities of the alpha (more stable) versus beta isomers were established both in the solid state by differential scanning calorimetry (4.36 +/- 0.64 kcal/mol) and in solution by (31)P NMR (3.80 +/- 0.57 kcal/mol). The isomerization of beta-P(2)W(18)O(62)(6)(-) to alpha-P(2)W(18)O(62)(6)(-), followed by (31)P NMR, has a bimolecular rate constant k(2) of 9.3 x 10(-)(1) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) at 343 K in pH 4.24 acetate buffer. Several lines of evidence establish the validity of suggestions in the literature that isomerization goes through a lacunary (defect) intermediate. First, the rate is proportional to [OH(-)]. Second, isomerization increases at higher ionic strengths, and a Debye-Hückel plot is consistent with a rate-limiting reaction between beta-P(2)W(18)O(62)(6)(-) and OH(-) (two species with a charge product of 6). Third, alkali-metal cations stabilize the bimolecular transition state (K(+) > Na(+) > Li(+)), consistent with recent ion-pairing studies in polyoxometalate systems. Fourth, the monovanadium-substituted products alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-P(2)VW(17)O(62)(7)(-) ((51)V NMR delta -554 ppm) form during isomerization in the presence of VO(2+). The known lacunary compounds (alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-P(2)W(17)O(61)(10)(-)) also react rapidly with the same vanadium precursor. Fifth, solvent studies establish that isomerization does not occur when OH(-) is absent. A mechanism is proposed involving attack of OH(-) on beta-P(2)W(18)O(62)(6)(-), loss of monomeric W(VI) from the M(3) (M(3)O(13)) terminal cap, isomerization of the resulting lacunary compound to alpha-P(2)W(17)O(61)(10)(-), and finally reaction of this species with monomeric W(VI) to form the thermodynamic and observed product, alpha-P(2)W(18)O(62)(6)(-).     

Breaking symmetry: spontaneous resolution of a polyoxometalate

A chiral polyoxometalate [Hf(PW11O39)2]10- (1) has been prepared and structurally characterized. It crystallizes in the chiral space group P2(1)2(1)2, as a conglomerate of two enantiomerically pure crystals in the absence of any chiral source. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined from the Flack parameter by X-ray crystallography. The structure of 1 comprises two lacunary [PW11O39]7- units, each functioning as a tetra-dentate ligand sandwiching an 8-coordinate HfIV centre in a distorted square antiprismatic geometry. Optically active crystals of both enantiomers were spectroscopically distinguishable by means of solid state circular dichroism spectroscopy. This hafnium-substituted polyoxometalate (POM), 1, shows that spontaneous chiral resolution, a rare phenomenon, can be operable in POM systems.     

Removal of Multiple Contaminants from Water by Polyoxometalate Supported Ionic Liquid Phases (POM‐SILPs)

The simultaneous removal of organic, inorganic, and microbial contaminants from water by one material offers significant advantages when fast, facile, and robust water purification is required. Herein, we present a supported ionic liquid phase (SILP) composite where each component targets a specific type of water contaminant: a polyoxometalate‐ionic liquid (POM‐IL) is immobilized on porous silica, giving the heterogeneous SILP. The water‐insoluble POM‐IL is composed of antimicrobial alkylammonium cations and lacunary polyoxometalate anions with heavy‐metal binding sites. The lipophilicity of the POM‐IL enables adsorption of organic contaminants. The silica support can bind radionuclides. Using the POM‐SILP in filtration columns enables one‐step multi‐contaminant water purification. The results show how multi‐functional POM‐SILPs can be designed for advanced purification applications.     

A comparative DFT study on the mechanism of olefin epoxidation catalyzed by substituted binuclear peroxotungstates ([SeO4WO(O2)2MO(O2)2]n− (M = TiIV,VV, TaV,MoVI, WVI,TcVII, and ReVII))

The selective epoxidation of olefins catalyzed by substituted binuclear peroxotungstates ([SeO₄WO(O₂)₂MO(O₂)₂]^n? (M = Ti^IV, V^V, Ta^V, Mo^VI, W^VI, Tc^VII, and Re^VII)) are investigated at the density functional theory level. The computational results reveal that the activation barrier corresponding to the oxygen transfer to the ethylene step decreases with M = V > Ti > Ta > Mo > W > Tc > Re. The Re and Tc substituted species can effectively improve the catalytic activity with lower Gibbs free energy barriers of 22.53 and 25.82 kcal/mol relative to the others under normal conditions. This suggests that Re and Tc center peroxo complexes would improve the catalytic performance. The higher activity of the substituted species is directly attributed to the lower energy of the σ*(O? O) orbital. The reaction barriers in epoxidation process are rationalized by analyzing the atomic charge, the O? O bond length, and the interaction between the substituted metal and the peroxo group of the precursor complexes. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

New polyoxometalate compounds built up of lacunary Wells-Dawson anions and trivalent lanthanide cations

Five new polyoxometalate compounds built on lacunary Wells-Dawson anions and trivalent lanthanide cations, KNa3[Nd2(H2O)10(alpha2-P2W17O61)].11H2O (1), (H3O)[Nd3(H2O)17(alpha2-P2W17O61)].6.75H2O (2), (H2bpy)2[Nd2(H2O)9 (alpha2-P2W17O61)].4.5H2O (3), (H2bpy)2[La2(H2O)9(alpha2-P2W17O61)].4.5H2O (4), and (H2bpy)2[Eu2(H2O)9(alpha2-P2W17O61)].5H2O (5), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, TG, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 shows a bisupporting polyoxometalate cluster structure where two {Nd(H2O)7}3+ fragments are supported on the polyoxometalate dimer [{Nd(H2O)3(alpha2-P2W17O61)}2]14-; this represents the first bisupporting polyoxometalate compound based on a polyoxometalate dimer. Compound 2 displays a 1D chain structure built up of bisupporting polyoxoanions [{Nd(H2O)7}2{Nd(H2O)3(alpha2-P2W17O61)}2]8- and Nd3+ ions. Compounds 3-5 are isostructural and show a 2D structure constructed of 1D polyoxometalate chains of [Ln(H2O)2(alpha2-P2W17O61)]n(7n-) linked by Ln3+ ions. Compounds 2-5 represent the first extended structures formed by lacunary Wells-Dawson anions and trivalent lanthanide ions. The influence of the Ln3+/[alpha2-P2W17O61]10- ratio on the syntheses of these five compounds has been studied. Furthermore, the fluorescent activity of compound 5 is reported.     

Olefin epoxidation with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by lacunary polyoxometalate [gamma-SiW10O34H2O2]4-

The tetra-n-butylammonium (TBA) salt of the divacant Keggin-type polyoxometalate [TBA](4)[gamma-SiW(10)O(34)(H(2)O)(2)] (I) catalyzes the oxygen-transfer reactions of olefins, allylic alcohols, and sulfides with 30 % aqueous hydrogen peroxide. The negative Hammett rho(+) (-0.99) for the competitive oxidation of p-substituted styrenes and the low value of (nucleophilic oxidation)/(total oxidation), X(SO)=0.04, for I-catalyzed oxidation of thianthrene 5-oxide (SSO) reveals that a strongly electrophilic oxidant species is formed on I. The preferential formation of trans-epoxide during epoxidation of 3-methyl-1-cyclohexene demonstrates the steric constraints of the active site of I. The I-catalyzed epoxidation proceeds with an induction period that disappears upon treatment of I with hydrogen peroxide. (29)Si and (183)W NMR spectroscopy and CSI mass spectrometry show that reaction of I with excess hydrogen peroxide leads to fast formation of a diperoxo species, [TBA](4)[gamma-SiW(10)O(32)(O(2))(2)] (II), with retention of a gamma-Keggin type structure. Whereas the isolated compound II is inactive for stoichiometric epoxidation of cyclooctene, epoxidation with II does proceed in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The reaction of II with hydrogen peroxide would form a reactive species (III), and this step corresponds to the induction period observed in the catalytic epoxidation. The steric and electronic characters of III are the same as those for the catalytic epoxidation by I. Kinetic, spectroscopic, and mechanistic investigations show that the present epoxidation proceeds via III.     

A highly chemoselective,diastereoselective, and regioselective epoxidation of chiral allylic alcohols with hydrogen peroxide,catalyzed by sandwich-type polyoxometalates: enhancement of reactivity and control of selectivity by the hydroxy group through metal-alcoholate bonding

Sandwich-type polyoxometalates (POMs), namely [WZnM2(ZnW9O34)2]q- [M = Mn(II), Ru(III), Fe(III), Pd(II), Pt(II), Zn(II); q = 10-12], are shown to catalyze selectively the epoxidation of chiral allylic alcohols with 30% hydrogen peroxide under mild conditions (ca. 20 degrees C) in an aqueous/organic biphasic system. The transition metals M in the central ring of polyoxometalate do not affect the reactivity, chemoselectivity, or stereoselectivity of the allylic alcohol epoxidation by hydrogen peroxide. Similar selectivities, albeit in significantly lower product yields, are observed for the lacunary Keggin POM [PW11O39]7-, in which a peroxotungstate complex has been shown to be the active oxidizing species. All these features support a tungsten peroxo complex rather than a high-valent transition-metal oxo species operates as the key intermediate in the sandwich-type POM-catalyzed epoxidations. On capping of the hydroxy functionality through acetylation or methylation, no reactivity of these hydroxy-protected substrates [1a(Ac) and 1a(Me)] is observed by these POMs. A template is proposed to account for the marked enhancement of reactivity and selectivity, in which the allylic alcohol is ligated through metal-alcoholate bonding, and the H2O2 oxygen source is activated in the form of a peroxotungsten complex. 1,3-Allylic strain promotes a high preference for the threo diastereomer and 1,2-allylic strain a high preference for the erythro diastereomer, whereas tungsten-alcoholate bonding furnishes high regioselectivity for the epoxidation of the allylic double bond. The estimated dihedral angle alpha of 50-70degrees for the metal-alcoholate-bonded template of the POM/H2O2 system provides the best compromise between 1,2A and 1,3A strain during the oxygen transfer. In contrast to acyclic allylic alcohols 1, the M-POM-catalyzed oxidation of the cyclic allylic alcohols 4 by H2O2 gives significant amounts of enone.     

Is the protein surrounding the active site critical for hydrogen peroxide reduction by selenoprotein glutathione peroxidase? An ONIOM study

In this ONIOM(QM:MM) study, we evaluate the role of the protein surroundings in the mechanism of H2O2 reduction catalyzed by the glutathione peroxidase enzyme, using the whole monomer (3113 atoms in 196 amino acid residues) as a model. A new optimization scheme that allows the full optimization of transition states for large systems has been utilized. It was found that in the presence of the surrounding protein the optimized active site structure bears a closer resemblance to the one in the X-ray structure than that without the surrounding protein. H2O2 reduction occurs through a two-step mechanism. In the first step, the selenolate anion (E-Se(-)) formation occurs with a barrier of 16.4 kcal/mol and is endothermic by 12.0 kcal/mol. The Gln83 residue plays the key role of the proton abstractor, which is in line with the experimental suggestion. In the second step, the O-O bond is cleaved, and selenenic acid (R-Se-OH) and a water molecule are formed. The calculated barrier for this process is 6.0 kcal/mol, and it is exothermic by 80.9 kcal/mol. The overall barrier of 18.0 kcal/mol for H2O2 reduction is in reasonable agreement with the experimentally measured barrier of 14.9 kcal/mol. The protein surroundings has been calculated to exert a net effect of only 0.70 kcal/mol (in comparison to the "active site only" model including solvent effects) on the overall barrier, which is most likely due to the active site being located at the enzyme surface.     

Reactions of trivacant Wells-Dawson heteropolytungstates. Ionic strength and Jahn-Teller effects on formation in multi-iron complexes

Reaction of alpha-P(2)W(15)O(56)(12-) and Fe(III) in a saturated NaCl solution produces a trisubstituted Wells-Dawson structure with three low-valent metals, alpha-(Fe(III)Cl)(2)(Fe(III)OH(2))P(2)W(15)O(59)(11-) (1). Dissolution of this species into 1 M NaBr (Br(-) is non-coordinating) gives the triaquated species alpha-(Fe(III)OH(2))(3)P(2)W(15)O(59)(9-) (2). Ionic strength values of 1 M or greater are necessary to avoid decomposition of 1 or 2 to the conventional sandwich-type complex, alpha beta beta alpha-(Fe(III)OH(2))(2)Fe(III)(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)(12-) (3). If the pH is greater than 5, a new triferric sandwich, alpha alpha beta alpha-(NaOH(2))(Fe(III)OH(2))Fe(III)(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)(14-) (4), forms rather than 3. Like the previously reported Wells-Dawson-derived sandwich-type structures with three metals in the central unit ([TM(II)Fe(III)(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(P(2)TM(II)(2)W(13)O(52))],(16-) TM = Cu, Co), this complex has a central alpha-junction and a central beta-junction. Thermal studies suggest that 4 is more stable than 3 over a wide range of temperatures and pH values. The intrinsic Jahn-Teller distortion of d-electron-containing metal ions incorporated into the external sites of the central multi-metal unit impacts the stoichiometry of their incorporation (with a consequent change in the inter-POM-unit connectivity, where POM = polyoxometalate). Reaction of non-distorting Ni(II) with the diferric lacunary sandwich-type POM alpha alpha alpha alpha-(NaOH(2))(2)Fe(III)(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)(16-) (5) produces alpha beta beta alpha-(Ni(II)OH(2))(2)Fe(III)(2)(P(2)W(15)O(56))(2)(14-) (6), a Wells-Dawson sandwich-type structure with two Ni(II) and two Fe(III) in the central unit. All structures are characterized by (31)P NMR, IR, UV-vis, magnetic susceptibility, and X-ray crystallography. Complexes 4 and 6 are highly selective and effective catalysts for the H(2)O(2)-based epoxidation of alkenes.