Understanding the dehydrogenation mechanism over iron nanoparticles catalysts based on density functional theory

The conversion of chemical feedstock materials into high value-added products accompanied with dehydrogenation is of great value in the chemical industry.However,the catalytic dehydrogenation reaction is inhibited by a limited number of expensive noble metal catalysts and lacks understanding of dehydrogenation mechanism.Here,we report the use of heterogeneous non-noble metal iron nanoparticles(NPs) incorporated mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbon to investigate the dehydrogenation mechanism based on experiment observation and density functional theory(DFT) method.Fe NPs catalyst displays excellent performance in the dehydrogenation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline(THQ)with 100% selectivity and 100% conversion for 10-12 h at room temperature.The calculated adsorption energy implies that THQ prefers to adsorb on Fe NPs as compared with absence of Fe NPs.What is more,the energy barrier of transition state is relatively low,illustrating the dehydrogenation is feasible.This work provides an atomic scale mechanism guidance for the catalytic dehydrogenation reaction and points out the direction for the design of new catalysts.     

Synergistic effect of Thiourea and HCl on Palladium (II) recovery: An investigation on Chemical structures and thermodynamic stability via DFT

This work duly investigates the recovery of Pd (II) chlorocomplexes from industrial wastewater. Chemical structures and thermodynamic stabilities of the complex formed are evaluated via density functional theory (DFT). By applying synergistic solutions of thiourea mixed with hydrochloric acid (HCl), the stripping reaction of Pd (II) in the loaded Aliquat 336 occurs and Pd (II) chlorocomplexes coordinated thiourea ligands are formed, thus 80.19% of Pd (II) chlorocomplexes can be recovered. The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of the stripping mechanisms and the structure of the complexes formed via the synergistic system. Such an understanding is still limited since little research has been conducted in this field. Owing to their molecular geometry, ligand coordination and donor groups play a vital role in the reactivity of palladium (II) complex. Quantum models have been developed to evaluate the chemical structure and thermodynamics stability of ((NH₂)₂CS·PdCl₂) namely: (i) DFT with B3LYP/6-31g(d,p) and MP2/6-31g(d,p) basis set, (ii) MP2 with cc-pVTZ basis set and (iii) CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ. Results demonstrate that the highest geometric stability exhibited is the structure of Pd-S bonding with 180° Cl-Pd-Cl. The distance (r) and angle (a) of the selected geometrical parameters for (NH₂)₂CS·PdCl₂ complex are reported. Additionally, FTIR and UV–vis spectroscopies have been conducted to analyze the sampling solutions. Further, the calculated vibrational frequencies and experimental spectroscopic results show good agreement with the optimized geometry.     

Methoxy-Substituted Tyramine Derivatives Synthesis,Computational Studies and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Kinetics

Targeting tyrosinase for melanogenesis disorders is an established strategy. Hydroxyl-substituted benzoic and cinnamic acid scaffolds were incorporated into new chemotypes that displayed in vitro inhibitory effects against mushroom and human tyrosinase for the purpose of identifying anti-melanogenic ingredients. The most active compound 2-((4-methoxyphenethyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl (E)-3-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl) acrylate (Ph9), inhibited mushroom tyrosinase with an IC₅₀ of 0.059 nM, while 2-((4-methoxyphenethyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl cinnamate (Ph6) had an IC₅₀ of 2.1 nM compared to the positive control, kojic acid IC₅₀ 16700 nM. Results of human tyrosinase inhibitory activity in A375 human melanoma cells showed that compound (Ph9) and Ph6 exhibited 94.6% and 92.2% inhibitory activity respectively while the positive control kojic acid showed 72.9% inhibition. Enzyme kinetics reflected a mixed type of inhibition for inhibitor Ph9 (K_i 0.093 nM) and non-competitive inhibition for Ph6 (K_i 2.3 nM) revealed from Lineweaver–Burk plots. In silico docking studies with mushroom tyrosinase (PDB ID:2Y9X) predicted possible binding modes in the catalytic site for these active compounds. Ph9 displayed no PAINS (pan-assay interference compounds) alerts. Our results showed that compound Ph9 is a potential candidate for further development of tyrosinase inhibitors.     

Phosphorene Supported Single-Atom Catalysts for CO Oxidation: A Computational Study

Single-atom catalysts (SACs) have attracted extensive attention owing to their high catalytic activity. The development of efficient SACs is crucial for applications in heterogeneous catalysis. In this article, the geometric configuration, electronic structure, stabilitiy and catalytic performance of phosphorene (Pn) supported single metal atoms (M=Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, and Au) have been systematically investigated using density functional theory calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. The single atoms are found to occupy the hollow site of phosphorene. Among the catalysts studied, Ru-decorated phosphorene is determined to be a potential catalyst by evaluating adsorption energies of gaseous molecules. Various mechanisms including the Eley-Rideal (ER), Langmuir-Hinshelwood (LH) and trimolecular Eley-Rideal (TER) mechanisms are considered to validate the most favourable reaction pathway. Our results reveal that Ru−Pn exhibits outstanding catalytic activity toward CO oxidation reaction via TER mechanism with the corresponding rate-determining energy barrier of 0.44 eV, making it a very promising SAC for CO oxidation under mild conditions. Overall, this work may provide a new avenue for the design and fabrication of two-dimensional materials supported SACs for low-temperature CO oxidation.     

Nucleophilic Substitution at Tetracoordinate Phosphorus. Stereochemical Course and Mechanisms of Nucleophilic Displacement Reactions at Phosphorus in Diastereomeric cis- and trans-2-Halogeno-4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-thiones: Experimental and DFT Studies

Geometrical cis- and trans- isomers of 2-chloro-, 2-bromo- and 2-fluoro-4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaphosphorinan-2-thiones were obtained in a diastereoselective way by (a) sulfurization of corresponding cyclic P^III-halogenides, (b) reaction of cyclic phosphorothioic acids with phosphorus pentachloride and (c) halogen–halogen exchange at P^IV-halogenide. Their conformation and configuration at the C₄-ring carbon and phosphorus stereocentres were studied by NMR (¹H, ³¹P) methods, X-ray analysis and density functional (DFT) calculations. The stereochemistry of displacement reactions (alkaline hydrolysis, methanolysis, aminolysis) at phosphorus and its mechanism were shown to depend on the nature of halogen. Cyclic cis- and trans-isomers of chlorides and bromides react with nucleophiles (HO⁻, CH₃O⁻, Me₂NH) with inversion of configuration at phosphorus. DFT calculations provided evidence that alkaline hydrolysis of cyclic thiophosphoryl chlorides proceeds according to the S_N2-P mechanism with a single transition state according to the potential energy surface (PES) observed. The alkaline hydrolysis reaction of cis- and trans-fluorides afforded the same mixture of the corresponding cyclic thiophosphoric acids with the thermodynamically more stable major product. Similar DFT calculations revealed that substitution at phosphorus in fluorides proceeds stepwise according to the A–E mechanism with formation of a pentacoordinate intermediate since a PES with two transition states was observed.     

H/D Exchange Processes in Flavonoids: Kinetics and Mechanistic Investigations

Several classes of flavonoids, such as anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanols, and flavones, undergo a slow H/D exchange on aromatic ring A, leading to full deuteration at positions C(6) and C(8). Within the flavanol class, H-C(6) and H-C(8) of catechin and epicatechin are slowly exchanged in D₂O to the corresponding deuterated analogues. Even quercetin, a relevant flavonol representative, shows the same behaviour in a D₂O/DMSOd₆ 1:1 solution. Detailed kinetic measurements of these H/D exchange processes are here reported by exploiting the time-dependent changes of their peak areas in the ¹H-NMR spectra taken at different temperatures. A unifying reaction mechanism is also proposed based on our detailed kinetic observations, even taking into account pH and solvent effects. Molecular modelling and QM calculations were also carried out to shed more light on several molecular details of the proposed mechanism.     

Effects of Mn2+ on the chrome‐free colored Ti/Zr‐based conversion coating on 6063 aluminum alloy

The conversion coating with golden color and improved corrosion resistance had been prepared by adding Mn²⁺ in the Ti/Zr conversion coating solution. Comparing with that of conversion coating without Mn²⁺, the optimal treatment time of this conversion coating was much shorter and the corrosion resistance was obviously improved. The effect of Mn²⁺ on the formation of golden Ti/Zr conversion coating was thoroughly investigated by means of energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, SEM, XPS, and Raman and electrochemical workstation. The results showed that the conversion coating had a double‐layer structure: the outer layer consisted of the metal‐organic complex and the inner layer was mainly made up of Na₃AlF₆. Mn²⁺ was oxidized into MnOOH in solution and precipitated on the substrate surface which provided the nucleus to Na₃AlF₆ crystal and accelerated Na₃AlF₆ crystal formation and also made the microstructure of conversion coating change to the cubic. The mechanism of the formation of the conversion coating can be deemed as nucleation, growth of Na₃AlF₆ crystal, and formation of metal‐organic complex. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

[DBU‐H]+ and H2o as effective catalyst form for 2,3‐dihydropyrido[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4(1H)‐ones: A DFT Study

DFT investigations are carried out to explore the effective catalyst forms of DBU and H₂O and the mechanism for the formation of 2,3‐dihydropyrido[2,3‐d]‐pyrimidin‐4(1H)‐ones. Three main pathways are disclosed under unassisted, water‐catalyzed, DBU and water cocatalyzed conditions, which involves concerted nucleophilic addition and H‐transfer, concerted intramolecular cyclization and H‐transfer, and Dimroth rearrangement to form the product. The results indicated that the DBU and water cocatalyzed pathway is the most favored one as compared to the rest two pathways. The water donates one H to DBU and accepts H from 2‐amino‐nicotinonitrile ( 1 ), forming [DBU‐H]⁺‐H₂O as effective catalyst form in the proton migration transition state rather than [DBU‐H]⁺‐OH^?. The hydrogen bond between [DBU‐H]⁺···H₂O··· 1 ^? decreases the activation barrier of the rate‐determining step. Our calculated results open a new insight for the green catalyst model of DBU‐H₂O. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

催化裂化条件下噻吩与改性Y分子筛的作用机制

以HY、NiY和稀土离子改性的Y分子筛(REY)为研究对象,采用固定床装置评价噻吩模拟油催化裂化性能;运用气相色谱-氢火焰离子发光检测器(GC-FID)、气相色谱-硫化学发光检测器(GC-SCD)和原位红外光谱技术分析产物,关联分子筛的酸性,研究催化裂化条件下噻吩与改性Y分子筛的作用机制。实验结果表明,催化裂化条件下,噻吩与分子筛的作用机制差异主要取决于与B酸或L酸相关的非骨架铝物种或金属离子物种的存在形式。其中,NiY分子筛中,噻吩主要是吸附在与NiOH⁺物种相关的L酸中心,而Ni₄AlO₄³⁺等物种减弱B酸性中心从而降低其裂化性能。对HY来说,噻吩易在与AlO⁺等物种相邻的B酸中心上聚合形成三联噻吩,并发生一定的氢转移和裂化反应;而对REY而言,分子筛中与RE物种相关的L酸位会促进噻吩在与非骨架铝羟基等物种(如Al(OH)₂⁺、Al(OH)²⁺等)相邻的B酸中心形成的二联噻吩发生氢转移和裂化反应。     

Rh（III）催化的N-甲氧基苯甲酰胺系列物选择性C-H氰基化反应

采用了最近热门的Rh(III)催化C?H键活化方法,以N-甲氧基苯甲酰胺系列物为反应底物, N-氰基-N-苯基对甲苯磺酰胺(NCTS)为氰基化试剂,高效合成了含氰基官能团产物。结果表明,该反应在碳酸银存在下,使用二氧六环作为反应溶剂,于80°C反应8h生成的邻位氰基取代的N-甲氧基苯甲酰胺的产率较高。进一步研究表明,该反应具有好的区域选择性和底物/官能团适应性。一系列机理实验研究表明,该反应可能采用了一个内部的亲电取代机制及使用了C?H键切割步骤作为关键限速步骤。考虑到该反应产物包含有价值的结构单元-N-甲氧基甲酰胺和氰基取代基,因而有望用于现代有机合成中。