Methyl orange degradation enhanced by hydrogen spillover onto platinum nanocatalyst surface

Following a thermal reduction method, platinum nanoparticles were synthesized and stabilized by polyvinylpyrrolidone. The colloidal platinum nanoparticles were stable for more than 3 months. The micrograph analysis unveiled that the colloidal platinum nanoparticles were well dispersed with an average size of 2.53 nm. The sol–gel‐based inverse micelle strategy was applied to synthesize mesoporous iron oxide material. The colloidal platinum nanoparticles were deposited on mesoporous iron oxide through the capillary inclusion method. The small‐angle X‐ray scattering analysis indicated that the dimension of platinum nanoparticles deposited on mesoporous iron oxide (Pt‐Fe₂O₃) was 2.64 nm. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data showed that the binding energy on Pt‐Fe₂O₃ surface decreased owing to mesoporous support–nanoparticle interaction. Both colloidal and deposited platinum nanocatalysts improved the degradation of methyl orange under reduction conditions. The activation energy on the deposited platinum nanocatalyst interface (2.66 kJ mol^?1) was significantly lowered compared with the one on the colloidal platinum nanocatalyst interface (40.63 ± 0.53 kJ mol^?1).     

A Robust 3D Cage‐like Ultramicroporous Network Structure with High Gas‐Uptake Capacity

A three‐dimensional (3D) cage‐like organic network (3D‐CON) structure synthesized by the straightforward condensation of building blocks designed with gas adsorption properties is presented. The 3D‐CON can be prepared using an easy but powerful route, which is essential for commercial scale‐up. The resulting fused aromatic 3D‐CON exhibited a high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area of up to 2247 m² g^?1. More importantly, the 3D‐CON displayed outstanding low pressure hydrogen (H₂, 2.64 wt %, 1.0 bar and 77 K), methane (CH₄, 2.4 wt %, 1.0 bar and 273 K), and carbon dioxide (CO₂, 26.7 wt %, 1.0 bar and 273 K) uptake with a high isosteric heat of adsorption (H₂, 8.10 kJ mol^?1; CH₄, 18.72 kJ mol^?1; CO₂, 31.87 kJ mol^?1). These values are among the best reported for organic networks with high thermal stability (ca. 600 °C).     

Sites for Methane Activation on Lithium‐Doped Magnesium Oxide Surfaces

Density functional calculations yield energy barriers for H abstraction by oxygen radical sites in Li‐doped MgO that are much smaller (12±6 kJ mol^?1) than the barriers inferred from different experimental studies (80–160 kJ mol^?1). This raises further doubts that the Li⁺O^.? site is the active site as postulated by Lunsford. From temperature‐programmed oxidative coupling reactions of methane (OCM), we conclude that the same sites are responsible for the activation of CH₄ on both Li‐doped MgO and pure MgO catalysts. For a MgO catalyst prepared by sol–gel synthesis, the activity proved to be very different in the initial phase of the OCM reaction and in the steady state. This was accompanied by substantial morphological changes and restructuring of the terminations as transmission electron microscopy revealed. Further calculations on cluster models showed that CH₄ binds heterolytically on Mg²⁺O^2? sites at steps and corners, and that the homolytic release of methyl radicals into the gas phase will happen only in the presence of O₂.     

Computational study on the mechanism for the gas‐phase reaction of dimethyl disulfide with OH

The mechanisms for the reaction of CH₃SSCH₃ with OH radical are investigated at the QCISD(T)/6‐311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) level of theory. Five channels have been obtained and six transition state structures have been located for the title reaction. The initial association between CH₃SSCH₃ and OH, which forms two low‐energy adducts named as CH₃S(OH)SCH₃ (IM1 and IM2), is confirmed to be a barrierless process, The S? S bond rupture and H? S bond formation of IM1 lead to the products P1(CH₃SH + CH₃SO) with a barrier height of 40.00 kJ mol^?1. The reaction energy of Path 1 is ?74.04 kJ mol^?1. P1 is the most abundant in view of both thermodynamics and dynamics. In addition, IMs can lead to the products P2 (CH₃S + CH₃SOH), P3 (H₂O + CH₂S + CH₃S), P4 (CH₃ + CH₃SSOH), and P5 (CH₄ + CH₃SSO) by addition‐elimination or hydrogen abstraction mechanism. All products are thermodynamically favorable except for P4 (CH₃ + CH₃SSOH). The reaction energies of Path 2, Path 3, Path 4, and Path 5 are ?28.42, ?46.90, 28.03, and ?89.47 kJ mol^?1, respectively. Path 5 is the least favorable channel despite its largest exothermicity (?89.47 kJ mol^?1) because this process must undergo two barriers of TS5 (109.0 kJ mol^?1) and TS6 (25.49 kJ mol^?1). Hopefully, the results presented in this study may provide helpful information on deep insight into the reaction mechanism. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011     

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 thermodynamic investigation of the nickel(II) chloride-acetonitrile system

Equilibrium vapor pressures were determined at temperatures between 294 K and 353 K for the NiCl₂-CH₃CN system.Compositions studied ranged from molar ratios of CH₃CN to NiCl₂ of 0.27 to 1.90. Three stoichiometric compounds were identified: NiCl₂(CH₃CN)₂, NiCl₂(CH₃CN), NiCl₂(CH₃CN)0.88. Per mole of gaseous CH₃CN the values of ΔH^o and ΔS^o were calculated to be 52.0 ±0.4 kJ mol^?1 and 149.0±1.3 J mol^?1 K^?1 for the decomposition of NiCl₂(CH₃CN)₂, and 25.9 ±0.8 kJ mol^?1 and 58.6± 2.1 J mol^?1 K^?1 for the decomposition of NiCl₂(CH₃CN). Below a composition of NiCl₂(CH₃CN)_0.88 the phase diagram is complex and could not be interpreted in terms of specific stoichiometric compounds.     

Rate constants and transition‐state geometry of reactions of alkyl,alkoxyl, and peroxyl radicals with thiols

Enthalpy, activation energy, and rate constant of 9 alkyl, 3 acyl, 3 alkoxyl, and 9 peroxyl radicals with alkanethiols, benzenethiol, and L ‐cysteine are calculated. The intersection parabolas model is used for activation energy calculations. Depending on the structure of attacking radical, the activation energy of reactions with alkylthiols varies from 3 to 43 kJ mol^?1 for alkyl radicals, from 7 to 9 kJ mol^?1 for alkoxyl, and from 18 to 35 kJ mol^?1 for peroxyl radicals. The influence of adjacent π‐bonds on activation energy is estimated. The polar effect is found in reactions of hydroxyalkyl and acyl radicals with alkylthiols. The steric effect is observed in reactions of alkyl radicals with tert‐alkylthiols. All these factors are characterized via increments of activation energy. Quantum chemical calculations of activation energy and geometry of transition state were performed for model reactions: C^?H₃ + CH₃SH, CH₃O^? + CH₃SH, and HO₂^? + CH₃SH with using density functional theory and Gaussian‐98. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 41: 284–293, 2009     

Multiple Fused Anthracenes as Helical Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Motif for Chiroptical Performance Enhancement

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons consisting of three fused anthracene units were designed as new π‐conjugated compounds having helical structures. These expanded helicenes were synthesized by Pt‐catalyzed cycloisomerization of the corresponding ethynyl‐substituted precursors. The nonplanar and helical structure was confirmed by X‐ray analysis and DFT calculations, and the barrier to helical inversion was estimated to be 34 kJ mol^?1. The enantiomers of the diphenyl derivative were successfully resolved by chiral HPLC. Enantiopure samples showed good chiroptical performance in the CD (|Δ?| 1380 L mol^?1 cm^?1) and CPL (|g_lum| 0.013) spectra, and these values were considerably large for simple organic molecules. The unique chiroptical properties are discussed on the basis of the molecular structure and the electronic state with the aid of time‐dependent DFT calculations.     

Selective Activation of the C−H Bond in Methane by Single Platinum Atomic Anions

Mass spectrometric analysis of the anionic products of interaction between platinum atomic anions, Pt^?, and methane, CH₄ and CD₄, in a collision cell shows the preferred generation of [PtCH₄]^? and [PtCD₄]^? complexes and a low tendency toward dehydrogenation. [PtCH₄]^? is shown to be H?Pt?CH₃^? by a synergy between anion photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations, implying the rupture of a single C?H bond. The calculated reaction pathway accounts for the observed selective activation of methane by Pt^?. This study presents the first example of methane activation by a single atomic anion.     

Keto and enol forms of methyl acetate molecular ions,their stability and interconvertibility prior to fragmentation in the gas phase

The heats of formation of the keto and enol forms of the molecular ion of methyl acetate are 577 ± 4kJ mol^?1 and 477 ± 4KJ mol^?1 respectively. Fragmentation by loss of CH₃O˙ takes place at the thermochemical threshold for [CH₃CO]⁺ formation for both isomers, which may therefore freely interconvert at internal energies corresponding to this decomposition threshold.     

Synthesis of Ni–Ru Alloy Nanoparticles and Their High Catalytic Activity in Dehydrogenation of Ammonia Borane

We report the synthesis and characterization of new Ni_xRu_1?x (x=0.56–0.74) alloy nanoparticles (NPs) and their catalytic activity for hydrogen release in the ammonia borane hydrolysis process. The alloy NPs were obtained by wet‐chemistry method using a rapid lithium triethylborohydride reduction of Ni²⁺ and Ru³⁺ precursors in oleylamine. The nature of each alloy sample was fully characterized by TEM, XRD, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). We found that the as‐prepared Ni–Ru alloy NPs exhibited exceptional catalytic activity for the ammonia borane hydrolysis reaction for hydrogen release. All Ni–Ru alloy NPs, and in particular the Ni_0.74Ru_0.26 sample, outperform the activity of similar size monometallic Ni and Ru NPs, and even of Ni@Ru core‐shell NPs. The hydrolysis activation energy for the Ni_0.74Ru_0.26 alloy catalyst was measured to be approximately 37 kJ mol^?1. This value is considerably lower than the values measured for monometallic Ni (≈70 kJ mol^?1) and Ru NPs (≈49 kJ mol^?1), and for Ni@Ru (≈44 kJ mol^?1), and is also lower than the values of most noble‐metal‐containing bimetallic NPs reported in the literature. Thus, a remarkable improvement of catalytic activity of Ru in the dehydrogenation of ammonia borane was obtained by alloying Ru with a Ni, which is a relatively cheap metal.     

Experimental and DFT studies of the conversion of ethanol and acetic acid on PtSn-based catalysts

Reaction kinetics studies were conducted for the conversions of ethanol and acetic acid over silica-supported Pt and Pt/Sn catalysts at temperatures from 500 to 600 K. Addition of Sn to Pt catalysts inhibits the decomposition of ethanol to CO, CH4, and C2H6, such that PtSn-based catalysts are active for dehydrogenation of ethanol to acetaldehyde. Furthermore, PtSn-based catalysts are selective for the conversion of acetic acid to ethanol, acetaldehyde, and ethyl acetate, whereas Pt catalysts lead mainly to decomposition products such as CH4 and CO. These results are interpreted using density functional theory (DFT) calculations for various adsorbed species and transition states on Pt(111) and Pt3Sn(111) surfaces. The Pt3Sn alloy slab was selected for DFT studies because results from in situ (119)Sn M?ssbauer spectroscopy and CO adsorption microcalorimetry of silica-supported Pt/Sn catalysts indicate that Pt-Sn alloy is the major phase present. Accordingly, results from DFT calculations show that transition-state energies for C-O and C-C bond cleavage in ethanol-derived species increase by 25-60 kJ/mol on Pt3Sn(111) compared to Pt(111), whereas energies of transition states for dehydrogenation reactions increase by only 5-10 kJ/mol. Results from DFT calculations show that transition-state energies for CH3CO-OH bond cleavage increase by only 12 kJ/mol on Pt3Sn(111) compared to Pt(111). The suppression of C-C bond cleavage in ethanol and acetic acid upon addition of Sn to Pt is also confirmed by microcalorimetric and infrared spectroscopic measurements at 300 K of the interactions of ethanol and acetic acid with Pt and PtSn on a silica support that had been silylated to remove silanol groups.     

Theoretical study of the structure and unimolecular decomposition pathways of ethyloxonium, [CH3CH2OH2]+

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations with split-valence plus polarization basis sets and incorporating valence-electron correlation have been performed to determine the equilibrium structure of ethyloxonium ([CH₃CH₂OH₂]⁺) and examine its modes of unimolecular dissociation. An asymmetric structure (1) is predicted to be the most stable form of ethyloxonium, but a second conformational isomer of C_s symmetry lies only 1.4 kJ mol^?1 higher in energy than 1. Four unimolecular decomposition pathways for 1 have been examined involving loss of H₂, CH₄, H₂O or C₂H₄. The most stable fragmentation products, lying 65 kJ mol^?1 above 1, are associated with the H₂ elimination reaction. However, large barriers of 257 and 223 kJ mol^?1 have to be surmounted for H₂ and CH₄ loss, respectively. On the other hand, elimination of either C₂H₄ or H₂O from ethyloxonium can proceed without a barrier to the reverse associations and, with total endothermicities of 130 and 160 kJ mol^?1, respectively, these reactions are expected to dominate at lower energies. A second important equilibrium structure on the surface is a hydrogen-bridged complex, lying 53 kJ mol^?1 above 1. This complex is involved in the C₂H₄ elimination reaction, acts as an intermediate in the proton-transfer reaction connecting [C₂H₅]⁺ +H₂O and C₂H₄ + [H₃O]⁺ and plays an important role in the isotopic scrambling that has been observed experimentally in the elimination of either H₂O or C₂H₄ from ethyloxonium. The proton affinity of ethanol was calculated as 799 kJ mol^?1, in close agreement with the experimental value of 794 kJ mol^?1.     

The structure and dissociation pathways of protonated methanol: An ab initio molecular orbital study

Ab initio molecular orbital calculations with moderately large polarization basis sets and including valence-electron correlation have been used to examine the structure and dissociation mechanisms of protonated methanol [CH₃OH₂]⁺. Stable isomers and transition structures have been characterized using gradient techniques. Protonated methanol is found to be the only stable isomer in the [CH₅O]⁺ potential surface. There is no evidence for a tightly-bound complex, [HOCH₂]⁺…?H₂, analogous to the preferred structure [CH₃]⁺…?H₂ of [CH₅]⁺. Protonated methanol is found to possess a pyramidal arrangement of bonds at the oxygen atom with a barrier to inversion of 8kJ mol^?1. The lowest energy fragmentation pathways are dissociation into methyl cation and water (predicted to require 284 kJ mol^?1 with zero reverse activation energy) and loss of molecular hydrogen (endothermic by 138 kJ mol^?1 but with a reverse activation barrier of 149 kJ mol^?1). The results offer a possible explanation as to why production of [CH₂OH]⁺ from the reaction of methyl cation with water is not observed. Other dissociation processes examined include loss of a hydrogen atom to yield the methylenoxonium radical cation or methanol radical cation (requiring 441 and 490 kJ mol^?1, respectively) and loss of a proton to yield neutral methanol (requiring 784 kJ mol^?1).     

Interaction of zinc oxide clusters with molecules related to the sulfur vulcanization of polyolefins ("rubber")

The vulcanization of rubber by sulfur is a large‐scale industrial process that is only poorly understood, especially the role of zinc oxide, which is added as an activator. We used the highly symmetrical cluster Zn₄O₄ (T_d) as a model species to study the thermodynamics of the initial interaction of various vulcanization‐related molecules with ZnO by DFT methods, mostly at the B3LYP/6‐31+G* level. The interaction energy of Lewis bases with Zn₄O₄ increases in the following order: CO62H₄3H₆2S₂<1,4‐C₅H₈2O2S3N?CH₃COO^?. The corresponding binding energies range from ?57 to ?262 kJ mol^?1. However, Brønsted acids react with the Zn₄O₄ cluster with proton transfer from the ligand molecule to one of the oxygen atoms of Zn₄O₄, and these reactions are all strongly exothermic [binding energies [kJ mol^?1] in parentheses: H₂O (?183), MeOH (?171), H₂S (?245), MeSH (?230), C₃H₆ (?121), and CH₃COOH (?255)]. The important vulcanization accelerator mercaptobenzothiazole (C₇H₅NS₂, MBT) containing several donor sites reacts with the Zn₄O₄ cluster with proton transfer from the NH group to one of the oxygen atoms of ZnO, and in addition the exocyclic thiono sulfur atom and the nitrogen atom coordinate to one and the same zinc atom, resulting in a binding energy of ?247 kJ mol^?1. A second isomer of [(MBT)Zn₄O₄] with a strong O? H???N hydrogen bond rather than a Zn? N bond is only slightly less stable (binding energy ?243 kJ mol^?1). The NH form of free MBT is 36 kJ mol^?1 more stable than the tautomeric SH form, while the sulfurized MBT derivative benzothiazolyl hydrodisulfide C₇H₅NS₃ (BtSSH) is most stable with the connectivity >CSSH.     

A Remarkable Solvent Effect on the Nuclearity of Neutral Titanium(IV)‐Based Helicate Assemblies

The spontaneous self‐assembly of a neutral circular trinuclear Ti^IV‐based helicate is described through the reaction of titanium(IV) isopropoxide with a rationally designed tetraphenolic ligand. The trimeric ring helicate was obtained after diffusion of n‐pentane into a solution with dichloromethane. The circular helicate has been characterized by using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction study, ¹³C CP‐MAS NMR and ¹H NMR DOSY solution spectroscopic, and positive electrospray ionization mass‐spectrometric analysis. These analytical data were compared with those obtained from a previously reported double‐stranded helicate that crystallizes in toluene. The trimeric ring was unstable in a pure solution with dichloromethane and transformed into the double‐stranded helicate. Thermodynamic analysis by means of the PACHA software revealed that formation of the double‐stranded helicates was characterized by ΔH(toluene)=?30 kJ mol^?1 and ΔS(toluene)=+357 J K^?1 mol^?1, whereas these values were ΔH(CH₂Cl₂)=?75 kJ mol^?1 and ΔS(CH₂Cl₂)=?37 J K^?1 mol^?1 for the ring helicate. The transformation of the ring helicate into the double‐stranded helicate was a strongly endothermic process characterized by ΔH(CH₂Cl₂)=+127 kJ mol^?1 and ΔH(n‐pentane)=+644 kJ mol^?1 associated with a large positive entropy change ΔS=+1115 J K^?1?mol^?1. Consequently, the instability of the ring helicate in pure dichloromethane was attributed to the rather high dielectric constant and dipole moment of dichloromethane relative to n‐pentane. Suggestions for increasing the stability of the ring helicate are given.     

Molecular motion in some radiolabelled dipeptides: a muon spin relaxation study

Activation parameters were determined for the dynamics of radicals formed by muonium addition to glycylglycine (GlyGly; H₃N⁺CH₂CONHCH₂CO₂^?) and the doubly protected alanylalanine derivative [Boc‐AlaAla‐Bz; Bu^tOCONHCH(Me)CONHCH(Me)CO—O—CH₂Ph]. GlyGly forms an adduct by muonium addition to the amide carbonyl group which isomerizes by flipping the muon between opposite sides of the molecule, requiring an activation energy of 20.4 kJ mol^?1. In Boc‐AlaAla‐Bz, muonium addition to the benzene ring of the benzyl (—CH₂Ph) group occurs, exhibiting an activation energy of 9.4 kJ mol^?1, believed to be from torsion about the C—Ph bond. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Isomerisation of CF2ClCH2Cl and CFCl2CH2F by Interchange of Cl and F Atoms with Analysis of the Unimolecular Reactions of Both Molecules

The recombination of CF₂Cl with CH₂Cl and CFCl₂ with CH₂F were employed to generate CF₂ClCH₂Cl* and CFCl₂CH₂F* molecules with 381 and 368 kJ mol^?1, respectively, of vibrational energy in a room‐temperature bath gas. The unimolecular reactions of these molecules, which include HCl elimination, HF elimination, and isomerisation by interchange of chlorine and fluorine atoms, were characterized. The three rate constants for CFCl₂CH₂F were 2.9×10⁷, 0.87×10⁷ and 0.04×10⁷ s^?1 for HCl elimination, isomerisation and HF elimination, respectively. The isomerisation reaction must be included to have a complete characterization of the unimolecular kinetics of CFCl₂CH₂F. The rate constants for HCl elimination and HF elimination from CF₂ClCH₂Cl were 14×10⁷and 0.37×10⁷ s^?1, respectively. Isomerisation that has a rate constant less than 0.08×10⁷ s^?1 is not important. These experimental rate constants were matched to calculated statistical rate constants to assign threshold energies, which are 264, 268, and 297 kJ mol^?1, respectively, for isomerisation, HCl elimination, and HF elimination for CFCl₂CH₂F and 314, 251, and 289 kJ mol^?1 in the same order for CF₂ClCH₂Cl. Density functional theory was used to evaluate the models that were needed for the statistical rate constants; the computational method was B3PW91/6‐31G(d′,p′). Threshold energies for the unimolecular reactions of CF₂ClCH₂Cl and CFCl₂CH₂F are compared to those for CF₂ClCH₃ and CFCl₂CH₃ to illustrate the elevation of threshold energies by F‐ or Cl‐atom substitution at the beta carbon atom (identified by C_H). The DFT calculations systematically underestimate the threshold energy for HCl elimination.     

Bis-ortho-substitution by methyl groups dramatically increases the racemization barrier of Tröger bases

We have shown through racemization kinetics studies that the enantiomerization barriers of the bis‐ortho‐methyl substituted Tröger bases 2 and 3 in acidic media are raised by 30 kJ mol^?1 relative to the parent compound 1 , that is 130.4(4) and 131.6(4) kJ mol^?1, respectively (105 °C, pH 1, ethylene glycol). The enantiomerization barrier of para‐methoxy‐para‐nitro substituted Tröger base 4 was determined by dynamic capillary electrophoresis to 96.3(2) kJ mol^?1 (25 °C, pH 2.2, H₂O), which is lower by 5 kJ mol^?1 relative to 1 . The influence of deutero‐substitution on the racemization rates was also studied. The influence of steric and electronic factors on the enantiomerization barrier was investigated by quantum‐mechanical (DFT) calculations. It is shown that enantiomerization takes place in two steps: ring‐opening and further interconversion of the monocyclic intermediate. For the interconversion to occur a transition state has to be passed which is sensitive to steric effects. Ortho‐substitution by methyl groups significantly increases the energy of this state. Thus, compounds 2 and 3 are the simplest Tröger bases which are configurationally stable in acidic media.