Highly Dispersed SiOx/Al2O3 Catalysts Illuminate the Reactivity of Isolated Silanol Sites

The reaction of γ‐alumina with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) vapor at low temperatures selectively yields monomeric SiO_x species on the alumina surface. These isolated (‐AlO)₃Si(OH) sites are characterized by PXRD, XPS, DRIFTS of adsorbed NH₃, CO, and pyridine, and ²⁹Si and ²⁷Al DNP‐enhanced solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. The formation of isolated sites suggests that TEOS reacts preferentially at strong Lewis acid sites on the γ‐Al₂O₃ surface, functionalizing the surface with “mild” Brønsted acid sites. For liquid‐phase catalytic cyclohexanol dehydration, these SiO_x sites exhibit up to 3.5‐fold higher specific activity than the parent alumina with identical selectivity.     

A one‐dimensional coordination polymer based on a di‐Schiff base supported trinuclear CuII subunit

A novel one‐dimensional Cu^II coordination polymer, catena‐poly[bis(μ₄‐3‐{[2‐(3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxidobenzylidene)hydrazinylidene]methyl}benzene‐1,2‐diolato)dimethanoltricopper(II)], [Cu₃(C₁₄H₁₀N₂O₄)₂(CH₃OH)₂]_n, (I), was constructed with a di‐Schiff base supported centrosymmetric trinuclear Cu^II subunit. In the subunit, two peripheral symmetry‐related Cu^II cations have square‐pyramidal CuNO₄ geometry and the central third Cu^II cation lies on an inversion centre with octahedral CuN₂O₄ geometry. In (I), each partially deprotonated di‐Schiff base 3‐{[2‐(3‐hydroxy‐2‐oxidobenzylidene)hydrazinylidene]methyl}benzene‐1,2‐diolate ligand (Hbcaz³⁻) acts as a heptadentate ligand to bind the Cu^II centres into chains along the a axis. A centrosymmetric Cu₂O₂ unit containing an asymmetrically bridging O atom, being axial at one Cu atom and equatorial at the other Cu atom, links the trinuclear Cu^II subunit into a one‐dimensional chain, which is reinforced by intramolecular phenol–methanol O—H...O and methanol–phenolate O—H...O hydrogen bonds. Interchain π–π stacking interactions between pyrocatechol units, with a distance of 3.5251 (18) Å, contribute to the stability of the crystal packing.     

A Highly Stable Copper‐Based Catalyst for Clarifying the Catalytic Roles of Cu0 and Cu+ Species in Methanol Dehydrogenation

Identification of the active copper species, and further illustration of the catalytic mechanism of Cu‐based catalysts is still a challenge because of the mobility and evolution of Cu⁰ and Cu⁺ species in the reaction process. Thus, an unprecedentedly stable Cu‐based catalyst was prepared by uniformly embedding Cu nanoparticles in a mesoporous silica shell allowing clarification of the catalytic roles of Cu⁰ and Cu⁺ in the dehydrogenation of methanol to methyl formate by combining isotope‐labeling experiment, in situ spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. It is shown that Cu⁰ sites promote the cleavage of the O?H bond in methanol and of the C?H bond in the reaction intermediates CH₃O and H₂COOCH₃ which is formed from CH₃O and HCHO, whereas Cu⁺ sites cause rapid decomposition of formaldehyde generated on the Cu⁰ sites into CO and H₂.     

A 3D Porous Metal Organic Framework Based on Infinite 1D Nickel(II) Chains with Rutile Topology Displaying Open Metal Sites

The reaction of Ni^II with a tetra‐benzoate pyrene ligand produces a 3D porous framework based on infinite 1D Ni^II chains. The Ni^II–O connectivity and the formation of a hydroxo‐bridge (μ₃‐OH) responsible for the connection of the central Ni^II atoms within the 1D Ni^II–(μ₃‐OH)₂–Ni^II chains can be straightforwardly compared with the Ti^IV–O–Ti^IV connectivity seen in TiO₂. The arrangement of the TBAPy ligand around the 1D rutile‐based chains leads in the generation of a porous framework with two distinct types of pores; based on the chemistries of these two types of pores, one can be labelled as hydrophobic and the other as hydrophilic. The use of different activation methods results in the generation of either a porous framework free of guest molecules or a completely solvent‐free material, in which the terminal H₂O molecules bound to Ni^II were removed, leading thus to a framework with open Ni^II sites. CO₂ isotherms collected on both frameworks at 195 K and one barshowed type I isotherms characteristic of microporous materials (BET surface areas for: guest‐free framework: 257(3) m² · g^–1; solvent‐free framework: 362(2) m² · g^–1). The affinity of both networks at zero coverage for both CO₂ and CH₄ was found to be greater when the unsaturated Ni^II sites are available within the void space.     

Molecular CuII‐O‐CuII Complexes: Still Waters Run Deep

Research on O₂ activation at ligated Cu^I is fueled by its biological relevance and the quest for efficient oxidation catalysts. A rarely observed reaction is the formation of a Cu^II‐O‐Cu^II species, which is more special than it appears at first sight: a single oxo ligand between two Cu^II centers experiences considerable electron density, and this makes the corresponding complexes reactive and difficult to access. Hence, only a small number of these compounds have been synthesized and characterized unequivocally to date, and as biological relevance was not apparent, they remained unappreciated. However, recently they moved into the spotlight, when Cu^II‐O‐Cu^II cores were proposed as the active species in the challenging oxidation of methane to methanol at the surface of a Cu‐grafted zeolite and in the active center of the copper enzyme particulate methane monooxygenase. This Minireview provides an overview of these systems with a special focus on their reactivity and spectroscopic features.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structure,and Characterization of Two Oxamido‐bridged NiIICuIINiII Heteronuclear Complexes

Two new trinuclear complexes [Cu^II(Ni^IIX₁)₂(C₂H₅OH)₂]· (ClO₄)₂·2(CH₃OH) ( 1 ) and [Cu^II(Ni^IIX₂)₂(H₂O)]·(ClO₄)₂· 0.75(H₂O) ( 2 ) (X₁ = dianion of 5,6;13,14‐dibenzo‐7,12‐bis(ethoxycarboxyl)‐9‐methyl‐2,3‐dioxo‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradeca‐7,11‐diene. X₂ = dianion of 5,6;13,14‐dibenzo‐9,10‐cyclohexano‐7,12‐bis(ethoxycarboxyl)‐2,3‐dioxo‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradeca7,11‐diene.) have been synthesized and characterized by single crystal X‐ray analysis, elemental analysis, IR, UV and EPR spectroscopies. The complexes consist of Ni^IICu^IINi^II heteronuclear cationic entities. The central Cu^II atom of 1 lies in an octahedral coordination environment, while that of 2 resides in a square‐pyramidal coordination sphere. The adjacent trinuclear units of 1 are linked together through π‐π stacking interactions resulting in a 1D supramolecular chain, whereas the π‐π stacking interactions between the contiguous units of 2 lead to a 2D structure. The EPR spectra of the two complexes show a signal of an axially elongated octahedral Cu^II system in 1 and an axially elongated square‐pyramidal Cu^II system in 2 , respectively. The hyperfine splitting of the Cu^II atoms (I^Cu = 3/2) has also been observed in the EPR spectra.     

Direct Resonance Raman Characterization of a Peroxynitrito Copper Complex Generated from O2 and NO and Mechanistic Insights into Metal‐Mediated Peroxynitrite Decomposition

We report the formation of a new copper peroxynitrite ( PN ) complex [Cu^II(TMG₃tren)(κ¹‐OONO)]⁺ ( PN1 ) from the reaction of [Cu^II(TMG₃tren)(O₂^.?)]⁺ ( 1 ) with NO^._(g) at ?125 °C. The first resonance Raman spectroscopic characterization of such a metal‐bound PN moiety supports a cis κ¹‐(^?OONO) geometry. PN1 transforms thermally into an isomeric form ( PN2 ) with κ²‐O,O′‐(^?OONO) coordination, which undergoes O?O bond homolysis to generate a putative cupryl (LCu^II?O^.) intermediate and NO₂^.. These transient species do not recombine to give a nitrato (NO₃^?) product but instead proceed to effect oxidative chemistry and formation of a Cu^II–nitrito (NO₂^?) complex ( 2 ).     

Synthesis and Structures of Two Dinuclear Transition Metal Complexes and Their Catalytic Applications in Hydrogenation of Ketones

The complexes [Ni₂(L)₂]₂ · H₂O ( 1 ) and [Cu₂(L)₂(H₂O)] · 2CH₃OH ( 2 ) were prepared by reaction of the chiral Schiff base ligand N‐[(1R,2S)‐2‐hydroxy‐1,2‐diphenyl]‐acetylacetonimine (H₂L) with Ni^II and Cu^II ions, respectively, aiming to develop economically and environmentally‐friendly catalysts for the hydrogenation of ketones. They have a dinuclear skeleton with axial vacant sites. The catalytic effects of the two complexes for hydrogenation of ketones were tested using dihydrogen gas as hydrogen source. They present some catalytic effects in hydrogenation of acetophenone, which has a dependence on the temperature and base used in these reactions. However, no apparent catalytic effects were found for the two complexes in hydrogenation of 4‐nitroacetophenone and 4‐methylacetophenone. Although the catalytic conversion in these hydrogenation reactions is low, they do represent a kind of cheap and environmentally‐friendly hydrogenation catalyst.     

Positive and negative methanol cluster ions using a direct fast atom bombardment technique

Positive and negative cluster ions in methanol have been examined using a direct fast atom bombardment (FAB) probe technique. Positive ion (CH₃OH)_IIH ⁺ clusters with n = 1-28 have been observed and their clusters are the dominant ions in the low-mass region. Cluster-ion reaction products (CH₃OH)_II(H₂O)H⁺ and (CH₃OH)_II(CH₃OCH₃)H⁺ are observed for a wide range of n and the abundances of these ions decrease with increasing n. The negative ion (CH₃OH)_II(CH₃O)^? clusters are also readily observed with n = 0-24 and these form the most-abundant negative ion series at low n. The (CH₃OH)_II(CH₂O)^?, (CH₃OH)_II(H_IIO)(CH₂O)^? and (CH₃OH)_II(H₂OXCH₃O)^? cluster ions are formed and the abundances of these ions approach those of the (CH₃OH)_II(CH₃O)^? ion series at high n. Cluster-ion structures and energetics have been examined using semi-empirical molecular orbital methods.     

Protonation of a Biologically Relevant CuII μ‐Thiolate Complex: Ligand Dissociation or Formation of a Protonated CuI Disulfide Species?

The proton‐induced electron‐transfer reaction of a Cu^II μ‐thiolate complex to a Cu^I‐containing species has been investigated, both experimentally and computationally. The Cu^II μ‐thiolate complex [Cu^II₂( L^MeS )₂]²⁺ is isolated with the new pyridyl‐containing ligand L^MeSSL^Me , which can form both Cu^II thiolate and Cu^I disulfide complexes, depending on the solvent. Both the Cu^II and the Cu^I complexes show reactivity upon addition of protons. The multivalent tetranuclear complex [Cu^I₂Cu^II₂( LS )₂(CH₃CN)₆]⁴⁺ crystallizes after addition of two equivalents of strong acid to a solution containing the μ‐thiolate complex [Cu^II₂( LS )₂]²⁺ and is further analyzed in solution. This study shows that, upon addition of protons to the Cu^II thiolate compound, the ligand dissociates from the copper centers, in contrast to an earlier report describing redox isomerization to a Cu^I disulfide species that is protonated at the pyridyl moieties. Computational studies of the protonated Cu^II μ‐thiolate and Cu^I disulfide species with LSSL show that already upon addition of two equivalents of protons, ligand dissociation forming [Cu^I(CH₃CN)₄]⁺ and protonated ligand is energetically favored over conversion to a protonated Cu^I disulfide complex.     

Copper(II) and Sodium(I) Complexes based on 3,7‐Diacetyl‐1,3,7‐triaza‐5‐phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane‐5‐oxide: Synthesis,Characterization, and Catalytic Activity

The reaction of 3,7‐diacetyl‐1,3,7‐triaza‐5‐phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (DAPTA) with metal salts of Cu^II or Na^I/Ni^II under mild conditions led to the oxidized phosphane derivative 3,7‐diacetyl‐1,3,7‐triaza‐5‐phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane‐5‐oxide (DAPTA=O) and to the first examples of metal complexes based on the DAPTA=O ligand, that is, [Cu^II(μ‐CH₃COO)₂(κO‐DAPTA=O)]₂ ( 1 ) and [Na(1κOO′;2κO‐DAPTA=O)(MeOH)]₂(BPh₄)₂ ( 2 ). The catalytic activity of 1 was tested in the Henry reaction and for the aerobic 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐oxyl (TEMPO)‐mediated oxidation of benzyl alcohol. Compound 1 was also evaluated as a model system for the catechol oxidase enzyme by using 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylcatechol as the substrate. The kinetic data fitted the Michaelis–Menten equation and enabled the obtainment of a rate constant for the catalytic reaction; this rate constant is among the highest obtained for this substrate with the use of dinuclear Cu^II complexes. DFT calculations discarded a bridging mode binding type of the substrate and suggested a mixed‐valence Cu^II/Cu^I complex intermediate, in which the spin electron density is mostly concentrated at one of the Cu atoms and at the organic ligand.     

Tetranuclear Manganese Complex Incorporating 2‐Pyridyloximate Ligand: Synthesis,Crystal Structure and Magnetic Property

A tetranuclear manganese complex of the composition {Mn₄[(Py)C(Ph)NO]₄(CH₃CH₂OH)₃(CH₃CH₂O)Cl₃}·2H₂O ( 1 ) was synthesized by solvothermal reaction, and characterized by X‐ray single crystal diffraction, IR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. X‐ray analysis revealed that complex 1 contains a [Mn₄(NO)₄]⁴⁺ core with three Mn^II atoms displaying distorted octahedral arrangements and one Mn^II ion exhibiting a trigonal bipyramidal arrangement. Low‐temperature magnetic susceptibility measurement for the solid sample of 1 revealed antiferromagnetic Mn^II ··· Mn^II interactions.     

A Pentanuclear Cobalt Complex with two [CoII(CH3O)3]– Units Wrapping a Triangular [CoIII3O]7+ Core: Synthesis,Structure, and Magnetic Properties

The reaction of Hppko (Hppko = phenyl 2‐pyridyl ketone oxime) and CoCl₂ · 6H₂O in the CH₃OH solvent with the presence of triethylamine (NEt₃) at room temperature and the exposure to air resulted in the formation of a new pentanuclear, mixed‐valence cobalt complex with the molecular formula [{Co^II(CH₃O)₃}₂{Co^III₃(μ₃‐O)(ppko)₃}Cl₂]. X‐ray single crystal analysis displays a trigonal bipyramid configuration with the terminal two Co^II ions wrapping an triangle [Co^III₃O]⁷⁺ core. The intermolecular C–H ··· O and C–H ··· Cl interactions form a 2D network framework. The analysis of magnetic susceptibility revealed the dominant antiferromagnetic interactions and strong orbital contribution of Co^II ions.     

Multivariate Analysis of Coupled Operando EPR/XANES/EXAFS/UV–Vis/ATR-IR Spectroscopy: A New Dimension for Mechanistic Studies of Catalytic Gas-Liquid Phase Reactions

Operando EPR, XANES/EXAFS, UV-Vis and ATR-IR spectroscopic methods have been coupled for the first time in the same experimental setup for investigation of unclear mechanistic aspects of selective aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol by a Cu/TEMPO catalytic system (TEMPO=2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxyl). By multivariate curve resolution with alternating least-squares fitting (MCR-ALS) of simultaneously recorded XAS and UV-Vis data sets, it was found that an initially formed (bpy)(NMI)Cu^I- complex (bpy=2,2′-bipyridine, NMI=N-methylimidazole ) is converted to two different Cu^II species, a mononuclear (bpy)(NMI)(CH₃CN)Cu^II-OOH species detectable by EPR and ESI-MS, and an EPR-silent dinuclear (CH₃CN)(bpy)(NMI)Cu^II(μ-OH)₂ ⋅ Cu^II (bpy)(NMI) complex. The latter is cleaved in the further course of reaction into (bpy)(NMI)(HOO)Cu^II-TEMPO monomers that are also EPR-silent due to dipolar interaction with bound TEMPO. Both Cu monomers and the Cu dimer are catalytically active in the initial phase of the reaction, yet the dimer is definitely not a major active species nor a resting state since it is irreversibly cleaved in the course of the reaction while catalytic activity is maintained. Gradual formation of non-reducible Cu^II leads to slight deactivation at extended reaction times.     

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 with H2O on TiO2 and Cu/TiO2 catalysts

Photoinduced reduction of CO₂ by H₂O to produce CH₄ and CH₃OH has been investigated on wellcharacterized standard TiO₂ catalysts and on a Cu²⁺ loaded TiO₂ catalyst. The efficiency of this photoreaction depends strongly on the kind of catalyst and the ratio of H₂O to CO₂. Anatase TiO₂, which has a large band gap and numerous surface OH groups, shows high efficiency for photocatalytic CH₄ formation. Photogenerated Ti³⁺ ions, H and CH₃ radicals are observed as reactive intermediates, by ESR at 77 K. Cu-loading of the small, powdered TiO₂ catalyst (Cu/TiO₂) brings about additional formation of CH₃OH. XPS studies suggest that Cu⁺ plays a significant role in CH₃OH formation.     

Bis[bis­(methoxy­carbimido)amine‐κ2N,N′]bis­(perchlorato‐κO)copper(II) bis­[bis­(methoxy­carbimido)amine‐κ2N,N′]bis­(methanol‐κO)copper(II) bis­(perchlorate) methanol disolvate

The title compound, [Cu(ClO₄)₂(C₄H₉N₃O₂)₂][Cu(C₄H₉N₃O₂)₂(CH₄O)₂](ClO₄)₂·2CH₃OH, comprises two independent Cu^II species lying on different inversion sites. In the Cu complexes, a distorted octa­hedral geometry arises (from basic square‐planar N₄ coordination) from the weak coordination of two perchlorate ions (as Cu—O) in one species and two methanol mol­ecules in the other (also as Cu—O). Inter­actions between the O atoms of the perchlorate anions or methanol groups and the imide or amine NH groups afford an extensive inter­molecular hydrogen‐bonding network.     

Synthesis,Crystal Structures,and Magnetic Properties of Two Copper(II) Radical Heterospin Complexes

Two heterospin complexes [Cu(NIT3Py)(cda)H₂O] · H₂O ( 1 ) and [Cu(NIT2Py)(cda)H₂O] · H₂O · CH₃OH ( 2 ) with Cu^II ions and pyridyl‐substituted nitronyl nitroxide radicals (NITxPy = 2‐(x′‐pyridyl)‐4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐imidazoline‐1‐oxyl‐3‐oxide, x = 3, 2; H₂cda = 4‐hydroxy‐pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid) were synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically. The single crystal structures show that the two complexes are both two‐spin complexes, in which the different radicals make the two complexes have different hydrogen bonding interactions to form 2D and 1D supramolecular network for complexes 1 and 2 , respectively. The magnetic measurements indicate that complexes 1 and 2 both exhibit antiferromagnetic interactions between Cu^II and radicals.     

Methane Oxidation over Cu2+/[CuOH]+ Pairs and Site-Specific Kinetics in Copper Mordenite Revealed by Operando Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and UV/Visible Spectroscopy

Cu-exchanged mordenite (MOR) is a promising material for partial CH₄ oxidation. The structural diversity of Cu species within MOR makes it difficult to identify the active Cu sites and to determine their redox and kinetic properties. In this study, the Cu speciation in Cu-MOR materials with different Cu loadings has been determined using operando electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and operando ultraviolet-visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopy as well as in situ photoluminescence (PL) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. A novel pathway for CH₄ oxidation involving paired [CuOH]⁺ and bare Cu²⁺ species has been identified. The reduction of bare Cu²⁺ ions facilitated by adjacent [CuOH]⁺ demonstrates that the frequently reported assumption of redox-inert Cu²⁺ centers does not generally apply. The measured site-specific reaction kinetics show that dimeric Cu species exhibit a faster reaction rate and a higher apparent activation energy than monomeric Cu²⁺ active sites highlighting their difference in the CH₄ oxidation potential.     

Dioxygen Activation of a Trinuclear CuICuICuI Cluster Capable of Mediating Facile Oxidation of Organic Substrates: Competition between O‐Atom Transfer and Abortive Intercomplex Reduction

The dioxygen activation of a series of Cu^ICu^ICu^I complexes based on the ligands ( L ) 3,3′‐(1,4‐diazepane‐ 1,4‐diyl)bis(1‐{[2‐(dimethylamino)ethyl](methyl)amino}propan‐2‐ol) ( 7‐Me ) or 3,3′‐(1,4‐diazepane‐1,4‐diyl)bis(1‐{[2‐(diethylamino)ethyl](ethyl)amino}propan‐2‐ol) ( 7‐Et ) forms an intermediate capable of mediating facile O‐atom transfer to simple organic substrates at room temperature. To elucidate the dioxygen chemistry, we have examined the reactions of 7‐Me , 7‐Et , and 3,3′‐(1,4‐diazepane‐1,4‐diyl)bis[1‐(4‐methylpiperazin‐1‐yl)propan‐2‐ol] ( 7‐N‐Meppz ) with dioxygen at ?80, ?55, and ?35 °C in propionitrile (EtCN) by UV‐visible, 77 K EPR, and X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, and 7‐N‐Meppz and 7‐Me with dioxygen at room temperature in acetonitrile (MeCN) by diode array spectrophotometry. At both ?80 and ?55 °C, the mixing of the starting [Cu^ICu^ICu^I( L )]¹⁺ complex ( 1 ) with O₂‐saturated propionitrile (EtCN) led to a bright green solution consisting of two paramagnetic species: the green dioxygen adduct [Cu^IICu^II(μ‐η²:η²‐peroxo)Cu^II( L )]²⁺ ( 2 ) and the blue [Cu^IICu^II(μ‐O)Cu^II( L )]²⁺ species ( 3 ). These observations are consistent with the initial formation of [Cu^IICu^II(μ‐O)₂Cu^III( L )]¹⁺ ( 4 ), followed by rapid abortion of this highly reactive species by intercluster electron transfer from a second molecule of complex 1 to give the blue species 3 and subsequent oxygenation of the partially oxidized [Cu^IICu^ICu^I( L )]²⁺ ( 5 ) to form the green dioxygen adduct 2 . Assignment of 2 to [Cu^IICu^II(μ‐η²:η²‐peroxo)Cu^II( L )]²⁺ is consistent with its reactivity with water to give H₂O₂ and the blue species 3 , as well as its propensity to be photoreduced in the X‐ray beam during X‐ray absorption experiments at room temperature. In light of these observations, the development of an oxidation catalyst based on the tricopper system requires consideration of the following design criteria: 1) rapid dioxygen chemistry; 2) facile O‐atom transfer from the activated cluster to substrate; and 3) a suitable reductant to rapidly regenerate complex 1 to accomplish efficient catalytic turnover.     

Probing Surface Sites of TiO2: Reactions with [HRe(CO)5] and [CH3Re(CO)5]

Two carbonyl complexes of rhenium, [HRe(CO)₅] and [CH₃Re(CO)₅], were used to probe surface sites of TiO₂ (anatase). These complexes were adsorbed from the gas phase onto anatase powder that had been treated in flowing O₂ or under vacuum to vary the density of surface OH sites. Infrared (IR) spectra demonstrate the variation in the number of sites, including Ti⁺³? OH and Ti⁺⁴? OH. IR and extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectra show that chemisorption of the rhenium complexes led to their decarbonylation, with formation of surface‐bound rhenium tricarbonyls, when [HRe(CO)₅] was adsorbed, or rhenium tetracarbonyls, when [CH₃Re(CO)₅] was adsorbed. These reactions were accompanied by the formation of water and surface carbonates and removal of terminal hydroxyl groups associated with Ti⁺³ and Ti⁺⁴ ions on the anatase. Data characterizing the samples after adsorption of [HRe(CO)₅] or [CH₃Re(CO)₅] determined a ranking of the reactivity of the surface OH sites, with the Ti⁺³? OH groups being the more reactive towards the rhenium complexes but the less likely to be dehydroxylated. The two rhenium pentacarbonyl probes provided complementary information, suggesting that the carbonate species originate from carbonyl ligands initially bonded to the rhenium and from hydroxyl groups of the titania surface, with the reaction leading to the formation of water and bridging hydroxyl groups on the titania. The results illustrate the value of using a family of organometallic complexes as probes of oxide surface sites.