Self-assembly of reverse micelle nanoreactors by zwitterionic polyoxometalate-based surfactants for high selective production of β‑hydroxyl peroxides

Surfactants with polyoxometalates (POMs) as polar head groups have shown fascinating self-assembly behaviors and various functional applications. However, self-assembly them into reverse micelles is still challenging owing to the large molecular size and intermolecular strong electrostatic repulsions of POM heads. In this work, a zwitterionic POM-based surfactant was synthesized by covalently grafting two cationic long alkyl tails onto the lacunary site of [PW₁₁O₃₉]^7?. With decreased electrostatic repulsions and increased hydrophobic effect, the POM-based reverse micelles with an average diameter of 5 nm were obtained. Interestingly, when these reverse micelles were applied for catalyzing the oxidation of styrene, an unprecedented β?hydroxyl peroxide compound of 2?hydroxyl-2-phenylethan-1?tert-butylperoxide was produced in high selectivity of 95.2%. In comparison, the cetyltrimethylammonium electrostatically encapsulated POMs mainly generated the epoxides or 1,2-diols. A free radical mechanism was proposed for the oxidation reaction catalyzed by the zwitterionic POM surfactants.     

Polyoxometalate-based ionic liquids-promoted CO2 conversion

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a class of molecular metal oxides, showing numerous applications in various chemical processes due to their unique acid/base and redox features. By adjusting the tunable molecular structures of the anions and counter cations, plenty of POM-based ionic liquids (POM-based ILs) have been fabricated to be used in various fields, such as catalysis, structural chemistry and material science. As a class of excellent catalysts, POM-based ILs have shown advantages in the emerging field of CO₂ utilization such as CO₂ capture, cycloaddition of CO₂ to epoxides, and reduction of CO₂, owing to the efficient activation of CO₂ by POM anions. This review summarizes recent advances in the catalysis of POM-based ILs, and particularly highlights the areas that are related to CO₂ conversion.     

Cobalt salts of decamolybdodicobaltic acid as precursors of the highly reactive type II CoMoS phase in hydrorefining catalysts

Catalysts have been synthesized using the Anderson polyoxometalates (POMs) (NH₄)₄[Ni(OH)₆Mo₆O₁₈] (NiMo₆POM), (NH₄)₆[Co₂Mo₁₀O₃₈H₄] · 7H₂O (Co₂Mo₁₀POM), and H₆[Co₂Mo₁₀O₃₈H₄] (Co₂Mo₁₀HPA) as the precursors and hydrogen peroxide as the solvent. The catalysts have been characterized by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, XPS, and HRTEM. Their catalytic properties have been tested in thiophene hydrodesulfurization and in the hydrodesulfurization and hydrogenation of components of diesel oil. The active phase of the catalysts synthesized using the POMs is the type II CoMoS phase in which the mean plate length is 3.6–3.9 nm and the mean number of MoS₂ plate per plate packet is 1.8–2.0. Use of hydrogen peroxide provides an efficient means to reduce the proportion of Co²⁺ promoter atoms surrounded by oxygen in the case of an impregnating solution containing both an ammonium salt of a heteropoly acid and a Co²⁺ salt. In the catalysts synthesized using cobalt salts of Co₂Mo₁₀HPA, the support surface contains the multilayer type II CoMoS phase and cobalt sulfides. These catalyst show high catalytic properties in thiophene hydrogenolysis and diesel oil hydrorefining. Models are suggested for the catalysts synthesized using Anderson POMs.     

A Polyoxometalate-Based Pathologically Activated Assay for Efficient Bioorthogonal Catalytic Selective Therapy

Since polyoxometalates (POMs) can undergo reversible multi-electron redox transformations, they have been used to modulate the electronic environment of metal nanoparticles for catalysis. Besides, POMs possess unique electronic structures and acid-responsive self-assembly ability. These properties inspired us to tackle the drawbacks of the copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction in biomedical applications, such as low catalytic efficiency and unsatisfactory disease selectivity. Herein, we construct molybdenum (Mo)-based POM nanoclusters doped with Cu (Cu-POM NCs) as a highly efficient bioorthogonal catalyst, which is responsive to pathologicallyacid and H₂S for selective antibiofilm therapy. Leveraging the merits of POMs, the Cu-POM NCs exhibit biofilm-responsive self-assembly behavior, efficient CuAAC-mediated in situ synthesis of antibacterial molecules, and a NIR-II photothermal effect selectively triggered by H₂S in pathogens. The consumption of bacterial H₂S at the pathological site by Cu-POM NCs extremely decreases the number of persisterbacteria, which is conducive to the inhibition of bacterial tolerance and elimination of biofilms. Unlocked at pathological sites and endowed with NIR-II photothermal property, the constructed POM-based bioorthogonal catalytic platform provides new insights into the design of efficient and selective bioorthogonal catalysts for disease therapy.     

Participation of molecular hydrogen-originated protonic acid sites in acid-catalyzed reactions

The formation of protons from molecular hydrogen was observed by IR of adsorbed pyridine for Pt/SO₄ ²⁻−ZrO₂ when heated in the presence of hydrogen. The promotive effects of hydrogen on skeletal isomerization of alkanes and cumene cracking are rationalized by the formation of protons from hydrogen. The formation of protons and the promotive effects of hydrogen were also observed for other catalysts such as Co.Mo/SiO₂−Al₂O₃ and a physical mixture of Pt/SiO₂ and H-ZSM-5. The concept “molecular hydrogen-originated protonic acid site” is proposed as an important and widely applicable concept in acid-catalyzed reactions.     

多孔材料负载金催化剂的制备与应用*

本文综述了微孔材料和介孔材料负载型金催化剂的制备、表征与应用研究的最新进展,从多孔载体的选择（氧化物、微孔分子筛、介孔氧化物、介孔分子筛和介孔碳材料）、金的最新负载方法（沉积-沉淀法、溶胶-凝胶法、原位法/一步法和化学气相沉积法）与表征及其催化性能（一氧化碳低温氧化、氢气/氧气直接合成过氧化氢、直接合成环氧丙烷和有机物的选择性氧化）等方面详尽地评述了微孔材料和介孔材料负载型金催化剂研究概况。同时,提出了多孔材料负载金催化剂存在的一些问题,并展望了其研究和发展的方向。     

Pyridine-H5PMo10V2O40 hybrid catalysts for liquid-phase hydroxylation of benzene to phenol with molecular oxygen

Pyridine(Py)-modified Keggin-type vanadium-substituted heteropoly acids (Py _n PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀, n=1 to 5) were prepared by a precipitation method as organic/inorganic hybrid catalysts for direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol in a pressured batch reactor and their structures were detected by FT-IR. Among various catalysts, Py₃PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀ exhibits the highest catalytic activity (yield of phenol, 11.5%), without observing the formation of catechol, hydroquinone and benzoquinone in the reaction with 80 vol% aqueous acetic acid, molecular oxygen and ascorbic acid used as the solvent, oxidant and reducing reagent, respectively. Influences of reaction temperature, reaction time, oxygen pressure, amount of ascorbic acid and catalyst on yield of phenol were investigated to obtain the optimal reaction conditions for phenol formation. Pyridine can greatly promote the catalytic activity of the Py-free catalyst (H₅PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀), mostly because the organic π electrons in the hybrid catalyst may extend their conjugation to the inorganic framework of heteropoly acid and dramatically modify the redox properties, at the same time, pyridine adsorbed on heteropoly acids can promote the effect of “pseudo-liquid phase”, thus accounting for the enhancement of phenol yield. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 20476046 and 20776069) and the “Qinglan” Project of Jiangsu Province for Young Researchers     

NO Reduction Over Noble Metal Ionic Catalysts

In last 40 years, catalysis for NO _x removal from exhaust gas has received much attention to achieve pollution free environment. CeO₂ has been found to play a major role in the area of exhaust catalysis due to its unique redox properties. In last several years, we have been exploring an entirely new approach of dispersing noble metal ions in CeO₂ and TiO₂ for redox catalysis. We have extensively studied Ce_1−x M _x O_2−δ (M = Pd, Pt, Rh), Ce_1−x−y A _x M _y O_2−δ (A = Ti, Zr, Sn, Fe; M = Pd, Pt) and Ti_1−x M _x O_2−δ (M = Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru) catalysts for exhaust catalysis especially NO reduction and CO oxidation, structure–property relation and mechanism of catalytic reactions. In these catalysts, lower valent noble metal ion substitution in CeO₂ and TiO₂ creates noble metal ionic sites and oxide ion vacancy. NO gets molecularly adsorbed on noble metal ion site and dissociatively adsorbed on oxide ion vacancy site. Dissociative chemisorption of NO on oxide ion vacancy leads to preferential conversion of NO to N₂ instead of N₂O over these catalysts. It has been demonstrated that these new generation noble metal ionic catalysts (NMIC) are much more catalytically active than conventional nano crystalline noble metal catalysts especially for NO reduction.     

Polyoxometalates–Directed Assembly of Inorganic–Organic Hybrid Compounds with Copper Multinuclear Nano-cluster Based on Flexible Double Tetrazole-based Thioether

Two new inorganic–organic hybrid compounds constructed from different polyoxometalates (POMs) and copper multinuclear clusters, [Cu(bmte)(H₂Mo₈O₂₆)_0.5]·3H₂O (1) and [Cu₃(bmte)₃(HSiMo₁₂O₄₀)]·H₂O (2) (bmte = 1,2-bis(1-methyl-5-mercapto-1,2,3,4-tetrazole)ethane), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions with a flexible double tetrazole-based thioether and characterized by IR, TG and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. In compound 1, two bmte ligands chelate two Cu^I ions with three N atoms to form a binuclear nano-scale subunit [Cu₂(bmte)₂]²⁺, then the binuclear Cu^I subunits are connected by [Mo₈O₂₆]⁴⁻ anions to build a one dimensional (1D) chain. In compound 2, a trinuclear nano-scale subunit [Cu₃(bmte)₃]³⁺ constructed from three Cu^I ions and three bmte ligands has been obtained, and the adjacent trinuclear subunits are linked by [SiMo₁₂O₄₀]⁴⁻ anions to form a “zipper” 1D chain. The adjacent chains of the title compounds are ultimately extended into 2D layers by hydrogen bonds between bmte and POMs. The structural difference of the two compounds indicates that the POMs play an important structure-directed role on the final networks. In addition, the electrochemical behavior of 2-modified carbon paste electrode (2-CPE) and its electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite have been discussed.     

CH bond activation in the presence or absence of oxygen or nitrous oxide

The reaction of C₂H₆with lattice oxygen, O^2- (in the absence of gaseous oxygen), or “adsorbedℍ oxygen (in the presence of gaseous oxygen) over NiMoO₄ catalysts has been performed and compared to C₃H₈ activation. The results obtained indicate that adsorbed oxygen exhibits a higher reactivity to C₂H₆, while lattice oxygen is more reactive relative to C₃H₈. Kinetic studies of these two reactions in presence of molecular oxygen have indeed shown that the ethane oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) is dependent on the oxygen partial pressure, whilst on the contrary propane ODH is not. In order to confirm the presence of “adsorbed” oxygen for ethane activation, ODH tests have been performed with N₂O. On increasing temperature, the O^- adsorbed species enhances the mild oxidation of ethane. The activation energy of ethane consumption E_C2H6, relative to propane (E_C3H8 = 133 kJ/mol) is 145 kJ/mol. A possible mechanism is proposed for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

“Inversion substitution” reactions with participation of molecular oxygen: ZH<Subscript>3</Subscript>I + O<Subscript>2</Subscript> → O<Subscript>2</Subscript>ZH<Subscript>3</Subscript> + I (Z = C,Si). The potential energy surface and rate constants

A new class of reactions of molecular oxygen O₂ + ZH₃I → O₂ZH₃ + I (Z = C, Si) proceeding by the mechanism of “inversion substitution” was investigated by quantum chemistry methods and the transition state theory (TST). The profiles of the potential energy surfaces (PES) along the reaction coordinate and the characteristics of transition states were calculated using the DFT approach with the B3LYP hybrid functional and the DZVP basis set. The characteristics of the transition states were then used for TST calculations of the rate constants for the direct and reverse “inversion substitution” reactions and their temperature dependences in the temperature interval 273–2000 K. The activation barriers to the substitution reactions under study were found to be substantially lower than the barriers to the abstraction reactions O₂ + ZH₃I → ZH₂I + HO₂ (by 16.3 kcal mol⁻¹ for Z = C and by 7.2 kcal mol⁻¹ for Z = Si). The results obtained show that the “inversion substitution” reactions dominate over the abstraction reactions in the interaction of molecular oxygen with carbon- and silicon-centered iodides as well as (probably) many other substrates. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1803–1807, September, 2008.     

Carbon Monoxide Oxidation by Polyoxometalate‐Supported Gold Nanoparticulate Catalysts: Activity,Stability, and Temperature‐ Dependent Activation Properties

Nanoparticulate gold supported on a Keggin‐type polyoxometalate (POM), Cs₄[α‐SiW₁₂O₄₀]⋅n H₂O, was prepared by the sol immobilization method. The size of the gold nanoparticles (NPs) was approximately 2 nm, which was almost the same as the size of the gold colloid precursor. Deposition of gold NPs smaller than 2 nm onto POM (Au/POM) was essential for a high catalytic activity for CO oxidation. The temperature for 50 % CO conversion was −67 °C. The catalyst showed extremely high stability for at least one month at 0 °C with full conversion. The catalytic activity and the reaction mechanism drastically changed at temperatures higher than 40 °C, showing a unique behavior called a U‐shaped curve. It was revealed by IR measurement that Au^δ+ was a CO adsorption site and that adsorbed water promoted CO oxidation for the Au/POM catalyst. This is the first report on CO oxidation utilizing Au/POMs catalysts, and there is a potential for expansion to various gas‐phase reactions.     

Mo–V Keggin Structure Compound and Its Electrocatalytic Reduction Toward Bromate

Abstract  

In this paper, the Mo–V Keggin compound 1, KNa₆[VMo₁₂O₄₀]₂(OH)(H₂O)₃₆, had obtained. Single crystal X-ray analysis revealed that there is the nanometer-sized water cube, Na₆(KOH)(H₂O)₃₆, in [VMo₁₂O₄₀]³⁻ Keggin structure. The Na₆(KOH)(H₂O)₃₆ forms one cuboid house with long side of 22.456 ? and short side of 11.228 ?. The cation water cube acts as a “host” and the globular anion [VMo₁₂O₄₀]³⁻ as “guest” which was captured. The cycle voltammetry study showed that above compound had excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of bromate. Thermogravimetric analysis was in agreement with the crystal data.     

Diphosphoryl-functionalized Polyoxometalates: Structurally and Electronically Tunable Hybrid Molecular Materials

Herein, we report the synthesis and characterization of a new class of hybrid Wells–Dawson polyoxometalate (POM) containing a diphosphoryl group (P₂O₆X) of the general formula [P₂W₁₇O₅₇(P₂O₆X)]⁶⁻ (X=O, NH, or CR¹R²). Modifying the bridging unit X was found to impact the redox potentials of the POM. The ease with which a range of α-functionalized diphosphonic acids (X=CR¹R²) can be prepared provides possibilities to access diverse functionalized hybrid POMs. Compared to existing phosphonate hybrid Wells–Dawson POMs, diphosphoryl-substituted POMs offer a wider tunable redox window and enhanced hydrolytic stability. This study provides a basis for the rational design and synthesis of next-generation hybrid Wells–Dawson POMs.     

Carbon Monoxide Oxidation by Polyoxometalate‐Supported Gold Nanoparticulate Catalysts: Activity,Stability, and Temperature‐ Dependent Activation Properties

Nanoparticulate gold supported on a Keggin‐type polyoxometalate (POM), Cs₄[α‐SiW₁₂O₄₀]?n H₂O, was prepared by the sol immobilization method. The size of the gold nanoparticles (NPs) was approximately 2 nm, which was almost the same as the size of the gold colloid precursor. Deposition of gold NPs smaller than 2 nm onto POM (Au/POM) was essential for a high catalytic activity for CO oxidation. The temperature for 50 % CO conversion was ?67 °C. The catalyst showed extremely high stability for at least one month at 0 °C with full conversion. The catalytic activity and the reaction mechanism drastically changed at temperatures higher than 40 °C, showing a unique behavior called a U‐shaped curve. It was revealed by IR measurement that Au^δ+ was a CO adsorption site and that adsorbed water promoted CO oxidation for the Au/POM catalyst. This is the first report on CO oxidation utilizing Au/POMs catalysts, and there is a potential for expansion to various gas‐phase reactions.     

Developing Insoluble Polyoxometalate Clusters to Bridge Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Water Oxidation Photocatalysis

Cluster catalysts are attractive for their atomically precise structures, defined compositions, tunable coordination environments, uniform active sites, and their ability to transfer multiple electrons, but they suffer from poor stability and recyclability. Here, we report a general approach to the direct insolubilization of a water soluble polyoxometalate (POM) [{(B-α-PW₉O₃₄)Co₃(OH)(H₂O)₂(O₃PC(O)-(C₃H₆NH₃)PO₃)}₂Co]¹⁴⁻ ( Co₇ ) and formation of a series of POM-based solid catalysts with the counter-cations Ag⁺, Cs⁺, Sr²⁺, Ba²⁺, Pb²⁺, Y³⁺, and Ce³⁺. They exhibit improved catalytic activities for visible-light-driven water oxidation following the trend CsCo₇ > SrCo₇ > AgCo₇ > Ce^IIICo₇ > BaCo₇ > YCo₇ > PbCo₇ . While CsCo₇ exhibits mainly homogeneous catalysis, the others are predominantly heterogeneous catalysts. An optimal oxygen yield of 41.3 % and a high apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 30.6 % for SrCo₇ is obtained, which is comparable to that of the parent homogeneous POM. Band gap structures, UV/Vis spectra, and real-time laser flash photolysis experiments collectively suggest that easier electron transfer from the solid POM catalyst to the photosensitizer promotes photocatalytic water oxidation performance. These solid POM catalysts exhibit good stability, which is directly confirmed by a combination of Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction patterns, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, five cycles of tests, and poisoning experiments.     

1H MAS NMR characterization of hydrogen over silica-supported rhodium catalyst

Hydrogen species in both SiO₂ and Rh/SiO₂catalysts pretreated in different atmospheres (H₂, O₂, helium or air) at different temperatures (773 or 973 K) were investigated by means of¹H MAS NMR. In SiO₂ and O₂-pretreated catalysts, a series of downfield signals at ∼7.0, 3.8–4.0, 2.0 and 1.5–1.0 were detected. The first two signals can be attributed to strongly adsorbed and physisorbed water and the others to terminal silanol (SiOH) and SiOH under the screening of oxygen vacancies in SiO₂lattice, respectively. Besides the above signals, both upfield signal at ∼−110 and downfield signals at 3.0 and 0.0 were also detected in H₂-pretreated catalyst, respectively. The upfield signal at ∼−110 originated from the dissociative adsorption of H₂ over rhodium and was found to consist of both the contributions of reversible and irreversible hydrogen. There also probably existed another dissociatively adsorbed hydrogen over rhodium, which was known to be β hydrogen and in a unique form of “delocalized hydrogen”. It was presumed that the β hydrogen had an upfield shift of ca. −20–−50, though its¹H NMR signals, which, having been masked by the spinning sidebands of Si-OH, failed to be directly detected out. The downfield signal at 3.0 was assigned to spillover hydrogen weakly bound by the bridge oxygen of SiO₂. Another downfield signal at 0.0 was assigned to hydrogen held in the oxygen vacancies of SiO₂ (Si-H species), suffering from the screening of trapped electrons. Both the spillover hydrogen and the Si-H resulted from the migration of the reversible hydrogen and the β hydrogen from rhodium to SiO₂ in the close vicinity. It was proved that the above migration of hydrogen was preferred to occur at higher temperature than at lower temperature.     

Preparation and electrocatalytic performance of Fe–N–C for electroreduction of H2O2

Fe–N–C catalysts were prepared through metal-assisted polymerization method. Effects of carbon treatment, Fe loading, nitrogen source, and calcination temperature on the catalytic performance of the Fe–N–C for H₂O₂ electroreduction were measured by voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The Fe–N–C catalyst shows optimal performance when prepared with pretreated active carbon, 0.2 wt.% Fe, paranitroaniline (4-NA) and one-time calcination. The Fe–N–C catalyst displayed good performance and stability for electroreduction of H₂O₂ in alkaline solution. An Al–H₂O₂ semi-fuel cell was set up with Fe–N–C catalyst as cathode and Al as anode. The cell exhibits an open-circuit voltage of 1.3 V and its power density reached 51.4 mW cm⁻² at 65 mA cm⁻².     

Distonic ions of the “ate” class

The gas phase synthesis, structure, and reactivity of distonic negative ions of the “ate” class are described. “Ate”-class negative ions are readily prepared in the gas phase by addition of neutral Lewis acids, such as BF₃, BH₃, and AlMe₃, to molecular anions, carbene negative ions, and radical anions of biradicals. The ions contain either localized σ- or delocalized π-type radical moieties remote from relatively inert borate and aluminate charge sites. The free radical reactivity displayed by these ions appears to be independent of the charge site. As an example, the distonic alkynyl radical (·C≡CBF₃⁻) is highly reactive and undergoes radical coupling reactions with NO₂, NO, H₂C=CH-CN, and H₂C=CH-CH₃. Radical-mediated group and atom transfers are observed with O₂, CS₂, and CH₃SSCH₃. Furthermore, H-atom abstraction reactions are observed, in accordance with the predicted high C-H bond strength of this species [DH₂₉₈(H-C₂BF₃⁻)=130.8 kcal mol⁻¹]. High level ab initio molecular orbital calculations on the prototype “ate”-class distonic ion · CH₂BH₃⁻ and its conventional isomer CH₃BH₂^·− reveal that CH₃BH₂^·− is 3.2 kcal/mol more stable than the α-distonic form. However, the calculations also show that CH₃BH₂^·− is unstable with respect to electron detachment, and only the α-distonic form ·CH₂BH₃⁻ should be experimentally observed in the gas phase.     

An Overview of Heterogeneous Transition Metal-Based Catalysts for Cyclohexene Epoxidation Reaction

Cyclohexane epoxide, which contains highly active epoxy groups, plays a crucial role as an intermediate in the preparation of fine chemicals. However, controlling the epoxidation pathway of cyclohexene is challenging due to issues such as the allylic oxidation of cyclohexene and the ring opening of cyclohexane epoxide during the cyclohexene epoxidation process to form cyclohexane oxide. This review focuses on the structure-activity relationships and synthesis processes of various heterogeneous transition metal-based catalysts used in cyclohexene epoxidation reactions, including molybdenum(Mo)-based, tungsten(W)-based, vanadium(V)-based, titanium(Ti)-based, cobalt(Co)-based, and other catalysts. Initially, the mechanism of cyclohexene epoxidation by transition metal-based catalysts is examined from the perspective of catalytic active centers. Subsequently, the current research of cyclohexene epoxidation catalysts is summarized based on the perspective of catalyst support. Additionally, the differences between alkyl hydroperoxide, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and oxygen (O₂) as oxidants are analyzed. Finally, the main factors influencing catalytic performance are summarized, and reasonable suggestions for catalyst design are proposed. This work provides scientific support for the advancement of the olefin epoxidation industry.