Transformations of organic compounds in supercritical fluid solvents: From experiments to kinetics,thermodynamics, simulation,and practical applications

The results of fundamental studies performed by the author on the reactivity of supercritical fluid solvents are systematized and generalized; practical applications of these solvents are considered. Methods for performing kinetic and physicochemical experiments, processing the data, constructing kinetic models, and calculating the thermodynamics of nonideal supercritical fluids (the parameters of critical points, binodal and spinodal lines, and critical point drifts; the thermophysical properties of reaction mixtures under supercritical conditions; etc.) are described. Attention is focused on the effect of supercritical fluid pressure on the rate constants of chemical reactions. The kinetics and mechanisms of the reactions of 2-propanol dehydration and decomposition of aliphatic nitro compounds in supercritical water and the isomerization of terpene compounds (α-pinene, β-pinene, and turpentine) in supercritical lower alcohols are studied. The formation of nanoparticles in supercritical fluid solvents and the treatment of ultradisperse diamonds in supercritical water are considered. The results formed the basis for the simulation and calculation of acetic acid and phenol oxidation processes in supercritical water and the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in a supercritical solvent and for the development of a pilot plant for the complete oxidation of trinitroglycerol and diethylene glycol dinitrate in supercritical water.     

Decomposition and Oxidation Reactions of Aliphatic Nitro Compounds in Supercritical Water

The reaction kinetics of nitromethane, nitroethane, and 1-nitropropane decomposition and oxidation in supercritical water near the critical point was studied in a flow reactor. The reaction rate constants were calculated assuming first-order reaction. It was found that pressure has a considerable effect on the rates of decomposition of the above nitrogen-containing compounds in supercritical water over a wide pressure range. The reactivity of the above aliphatic nitro compounds in supercritical water in decomposition reactions decreased and in oxidation reactions increased with an increasing number of carbon atoms.     

超临界水理论研究的进展*

通过计算模拟、拉曼光谱、NMR以及衍射分析对超临界水静态结构进行了广泛的研究,氢键结构是这些研究的重要内容。研究结果显示在临界点附近水的氢键结构受到很大的破坏,只有相当于常温下29％左右的氢键存在。利用微波波谱法、NMR法以及准弹性不边疆中子散射方法对超临界水动力学进行了研究。结果发现,在临界点附近,水分子的动力学重排时间急剧缩短,这就使得以超临界水为介质的化学反应速率大大增加。由于微波的周期比较长,可能大大地超过了超临界水结构的动力学重排时间,因此微波波谱法不适合于高温低密度超临界水的动力学研究。今后需要加强超临界水氢键结构变化的机理和动力学的实验与模拟的研究。     

超(近)临界条件下醋酸甲酯水解过程研究

超(近)临界水作为优良的有机反应溶剂适合于针对酸碱催化类型有机反应绿色工艺的开发.本课题以具备工业生产背景的醋酸甲酯水解作为研究体系,在一管式反应器中,将原料(5%质量分数)置于体系的超(近)临界条件下(523～673K,23～32MPa)进行反应操作.实验结果表明,在无外加酸性催化剂情况下,水解反应以接近1的选择性,在150～300s内达到热力学平衡限制,同时在系统临界点附近,溶剂化作用对反应动力学影响显著.根据SN2反应机理对反应动力学方程进行了回归.     

纤维素在超临界水中的反应

纤维素是一种非常有价值的可再生资源,通过其反应可以获得多种有用的物质。对纤维素在超临界水中的反应进行了综述。在没有催化剂的情况下,纤维素在超临界水中水解生成葡萄糖、果糖、低聚物等;对纤维素水解的设备、产物分布以及纤维素水解反应机理进行了阐述。采用Ni,Pt,Ru,KOH等作催化剂,纤维素在超临界水中发生气化反应,生成的气体产物主要为H2,CO2和CH4;介绍了纤维素及其主要水解产物葡萄糖的制氢反应过程。对纤维素超临界水反应技术的发展前景进行了展望.     

Reaction kinetics and critical phenomena: rates of some first order gas evolution reactions in binary solvents with a consolute point

We have measured the rate of carbon dioxide evolution in the aniline catalyzed decomposition of acetone dicarboxylic acid in a mixture of isobutyric acid + water near its consolute point. Within a temperature interval of 1 degrees C, which included the critical solution temperature, the first-order rate constant oscillated in magnitude by about 10% as it passed through three complete cycles of slowing down followed by speeding up. Whereas we can find no ready explanation for the speeding up, we suggest that, because the mixture contained no inert components, the slowing down should belong to the Griffiths-Wheeler class of strong critical effects [Phys. Rev. A 1970, 2, 1047]. As a check on this conclusion, we have measured the rate of the SN1 decomposition of benzene diazonium tetrafluoroborate in 2-butoxyethanol + water near the lower critical solution temperature and also the rate of the acid-catalyzed decomposition of ethyl diazoacetate in isobutyric acid + water near the upper critical solution temperature. Both of these reactions evolve nitrogen. In the first reaction, 2-butoxyethanol is inert, whereas in the second, isobutyric acid is inert. In both cases, because there was one inert component, we regarded the response of the rate constant to temperature in the critical region to be representative of the Griffiths-Wheeler class of weak critical effects. Within our accuracy of measurement of about 2% in the rate constant and about 1 mK in the temperature, we could detect no effect of the critical point on the rates of either of these reactions, suggesting that a weak effect may be too small to be seen with our experimental apparatus. The successful observation of a critical effect in the rate of decomposition of acetone dicarboxylic acid proves, however, that kinetic critical phenomena are observable in heterogeneous reactions.     

Transformation of benzonitrile into benzyl alcohol and benzoate esters in supercritical alcohols

The reactions of benzonitrile in supercritical methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol were investigated under non-catalytic conditions. In supercritical methanol, benzonitrile was converted to methyl benzoate in high yield. The esterification reaction also occurred in supercritical ethanol to afford ethyl benzoate in moderate yield. The esterification could occur via a route analogous to the Pinner reaction. On the other hand, benzonitrile in supercritical 2-propanol yielded no ester. Benzyl alcohol was the major product in supercritical 2-propanol. We investigated the reaction of the CN bond in supercritical 2-propanol. In supercritical 2-propanol, N-benzylideneaniline was transferred to the reduction product (N-benzylaniline) and hydrolysis products (benzyl alcohol and aniline). The hydrolysis reaction was restricted when the reaction was carried out in supercritical 2-propanol with a low water content. This indicates that the water in the 2-propanol acts as a reagent for the hydrolysis of the CN bond. These results suggested the following reaction process: C₆H₅CN→C₆H₅CHNH→C₆H₅CHO→C₆H₅CH₂OH.     

The role of local structure on formic acid decomposition in supercritical water: A hybrid quantum mechanics/Monte Carlo study

We explored water-assisted decompositions of formic acid in supercritical water in terms of local structure near reactant. A hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) simulation used in this paper includes QM part as first solvation shell members around the reactant. A present QM/MM approach can simulate supercritical water solution with a reasonable computational load while keeping the simulation preciseness because a density functional theory of B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level was iterated at every 1000 Monte Carlo solute moves. The formic acid converts mainly decarboxylation by water-assisted mechanism, and the coordinated water molecules play an important role for understanding supercritical water density dependence of the reaction. We analyzed a contour map based on the solute–solvent interaction energy along with the reaction pathway. Coordinated water molecule restricted the dehydration pathway by means of hydrogen bond with formic acid, however, the coordinated water promotes the decarboxylation pathway by means of stabilization of the transition state structure with one catalytic water molecule. The contour map of the pair interaction energy along the reaction path elucidates the role of local structure on reactions in supercritical water.     

Micellar catalysis of Diels-Alder reactions: substrate positioning in the micelle

We have studied the kinetics of the Diels-Alder reactions of cyclopentadiene, sorbyl alcohol, and sorbyltrimethylammonium bromide with a series of N-substituted maleimides in micellar media. Micellar rate constants have been determined and were found to be 20-40 times lower than the respective aqueous rate constants. Nevertheless, it was found that upon addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate the observed rate constants could be enhanced up to a factor of about 4.5. The low micellar rate constants can be attributed to the relatively apolar (water-poor) region of the micelle, in which the reactions take place. NMR experiments indicate that the reactants usually reside near the alpha- or beta-CH2 groups of the surfactant molecules in the micelle. Comparison of the micellar rate constants with rate constants in water/1-propanol mixtures suggests a concentration of water of 10-15 M in the micellar region where the diene and dienophile react.     

频哪醇重排反应的研究进展

频哪醇重排反应是由1,2-二醇在酸催化下发生分子内重排脱水,生成频哪酮的反应。频哪酮是一种重要的有机化工中间体,广泛应用于农药、医学、染料等领域。本文综述了频哪醇重排反应的研究进展,主要包括频哪醇在高温液态水和超临界水中的重排反应;无机酸、路易斯酸和分子筛催化的反应;固相条件下的反应;以及光化学、电化学重排等方面的研究...     

Non-catalytic condensation of aromatic aldehydes with aniline in high temperature water

Abstract

The synthesis of diamino triphenyl methanes from aniline and aromatic aldehydes was conducted in near critical water and supercritical water. The reaction parameters, such as temperature, density, and reaction time, have been studied. Significant acceleration of the condensation reaction of aniline and aromatic aldehydes can be achieved by using high temperature water, especially near the critical point, in the absence of any acid catalysts. It has been demonstrated that high temperature water act effectively in the place of conventional acid catalysts.     

Saponification of ethyl acetate in 2,6-lutidine + water near its critical point

We have measured the rate of saponification of ethyl acetate (CH₃COOC₂H₅) in 2,6-lutidine (2,6-DMP)?+?water (H₂O) near and far away from its critical point by electrical conductivity experiment. We found that the rate of saponification slowed in the one-phase region at temperatures near the critical point. This behaviour is evidence in support of critical slowing down. Moreover, the experimental results were compared with those of the same reaction in a different critical mixture of 2-butoxyethanol?+?H₂O [Y.W. Kim, Int. J. Thermophys. 25, 1025 (2004)].     

CW-CO2激光引发异丙醇反应

近年来,醇类的红外光化学反应及其红外多光子解离的研究日益受到人们的重视。Farneth等报道了用TEACO_2激光器引发气相异丙醇反应,得到丙烯产物。我们用CW-CO_2激光引发气相和液相异丙酮反应,主要得到丙酮,以及少量的丙烯,甲烷和CO。我们曾经研究了CW-CO_2激光引发NH_3 CH_3OH反应得到产物六次甲基四胺,而此产物是由CH_2O和NH_3反应生成的。据此,我们认为在无氧条件下,CW-CO_2激光引发气相异丙醇反应或引发NH_3敏化甲醇的多     

A kinetic study of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions in micellar media

The kinetics of the 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions (DC) of benzonitrile oxide with a series of N-substituted maleimides in micellar media have been investigated. Surfactants studied include anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate, cationic cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, and a series of nonionic alkyl poly(ethylene oxide) surfactants (CxEy). The kinetic data have been analyzed by using the pseudo-phase model for bimolecular reactions. Much larger micellar accelerations (up to a factor of 17) were observed for these reactions than was previously found for Diels-Alder (DA) reactions (J. Org. Chem. 2002, 67, 7369-7377). This is explained by the smaller solvent sensitivity of DC reactions, which causes the micellar rate constants to be much closer to the value of water (km/kw approximately 0.25-0.45 for DC reactions vs 0.02-0.05 for DA reactions). Further evidence is presented, that a water/1-propanol mixture ([H2O] ca. 15 M) is a fairly good mimic of the micellar reaction environment for these reactions. Isobaric activation parameters have been determined for the reaction in the micellar phase of C16E20, using micellar rate constants. They correspond well to values obtained for the aforementioned micelle mimic.     

Solubilities of caffeine and theophylline in supercritical ammonia

The solubilities of caffeine and theophylline in supercritical ammonia at 140°C have been determined. Both compounds exhibited substantial solubility in the ammonia, with caffeine showing the greatest increase in solubility near the critical pressure where density increases most rapidly. However, theophylline showed an appreciable solubility at pressures substantially below the critical pressure. Possible chemical reactions of supercritical ammonia with these solutes at this temperature were found to be unimportant in the present study. The role of supercritical ammonia as a solvent for polar organic molecules is discussed.     

可调变流体与绿色化工过程

介绍了可调变流体特性及其在绿色化工过程中的应用。重点介绍了利用超临界流体(主要是超临界C02)、亚临界水和气体(主要是CO2)膨胀的流体这三类可调变流体进行绿色化工过程设计的特点与途径。     

Kinetics and mechanism of tetrahydrofuran synthesis via 1,4-butanediol dehydration in high-temperature water

We conducted an experimental investigation into the kinetics and mechanism of tetrahydrofuran synthesis from 1,4-butanediol via dehydration in high-temperature liquid water (HTW) without added catalyst at 200-350 degrees C. The reaction was reversible, with tetrahydrofuran being produced at an equilibrium yield of 84% (at 200 degrees C) to 94% (at 350 degrees C). The addition of CO2 to the reaction mixture increased the reaction rate by a factor of 1.9-2.9, because of the increase in acidity resulting from the formation and dissociation of carbonic acid. This increase was much less than that expected (factor of 37-60) from a previously suggested acid-catalyzed mechanism. This disagreement prompted experiments with added acid (HCl) and base (NaOH) to investigate the influence of pH on the reaction rate. These experiments revealed three distinct regions of pH dependence. At high and low pH, the dehydration rate increased with increasing acidity. At near-neutral pH, however, the rate was essentially insensitive to changes in pH. This behavior is consistent with a mechanism where H2O, in addition to H+, serves as a proton donor. This work indicates that the relatively high native concentration of + (large KW), which has commonly been thought to lead to the occurrence of acid-catalyzed reactions in HTW without added catalyst, does not explain the dehydration of 1,4-butanediol in HTW without catalyst. Rather, H2O serves directly as the proton donor for the reaction.     

临界溶剂化作用对水解反应动力学的影响

用过渡态及Kirkwood介电模型考察近临界水中醋酸甲酯(MeAc)水解动力学.实验结果表明,临界溶剂化作用使本体系在623K附近出现反应活化体积(ΔV^≠)极负值现象,同时反应表观活化能降低至(23.5±8.29)kJ/mol.利用lnkc与反应场的线性关系可修正压力因素对水解动力学的影响,并证实了近临界水介质中MeAc水解S_N2反应机理的可靠性.     

Thermal lensing in a supercritical water medium

A pulsed, two-beam, thermal lensing experiment was performed to determine the concentration of aqueous solutes above the critical point of water. Despite a very significant mirage effect due to thermal gradients in the cell and absorption by water itself, the thermal lensing signal strength for aqueous benzoic acid in supercritical water was found to be linear with concentration in the sub-millimolar range. Although thermal lensing experiments in aqueous media are notoriously insensitive, the sharp density gradient near the critical point considerably improves the signal intensity. In this study a short-pulse pump 266 nm YAG laser and continuous low-power probe Ar ion beam were both focused into a supercritical water cell, giving a lensing signal whose strength could be maximized by changing the overlap of the two beams.     

超临界甲醇降解对苯二甲酸丁二酯的研究

作为一种综合性能优良的新型工程塑料,对苯二甲酸丁二酯(PBT)工程塑料及其各种合金在全球范围内已经广泛用于电子电气、汽车、机械及民用等各个领域,而中国是其中需求量最大的国家．