Laser,photolysis of formic acid vapor at 222 nm. quantum yields of stable products

Quantum yields of the stable products, CO, CO₂ and H₂, formed in the excimer laser photolysis of formcc acid vapor at 222 nm and 296 K, have been determined. The results, taken together with the primary quantum yield of OH and the mechanssm of the subsequent reaction of OH with formic acid, studied earlier in our laboratory, are consistent with the photolytic channels, . Although calculated and measured yields from the photolysis of a range of pressures of formcc acid are in good agreemen,, the mechanism is not unique, and molecular photodecomposition paths may occur for the monomer to some extent.     

Laser isotope separation and the multiphoton dissociation of formic acid using a pulsed HF laser

The focussed beam from a single line [P₂ (5)] of a pulsed HF laser has been used to stimulate the decomposition of formic acid. The yield (Y is the number of product molecules per pulse / formic acid pressure) of the non-condensable (77 K) products, hydrogen and CO, has been studied as a function of laser radiant energy (from 25-115 mJ) and pressure (from 0.4-2.7 kPa). The intensity dependence of Y suggests that each dissociating formic acid requires the equivalent of at least 6 HF P₂(5) photons (260 kJ/mole). For pressures above about 0.6 kPa, Y_H2 = (?0.6 ± 1.7) × 10¹² + (2.4 ± 1.0) × 10¹² P and Y_CO = (?0.5 ± 6.1) × 10¹³ × (8.7 ± 3.7) × 10¹³ P. The linear dependerrce of yields indicates that a collisionally assisted decomposition process is important at these pressures. The efficiency of the conversion of photon energy to reaction products at a pressure of 2.7 kPa is ? 7% for CO and ? 0.2% for hydrogen. Selective excitation of HCOOH in equimolar mixtures of HCOOH/HCOOD, at a total pressure of 0.6 kPa, has provided a physically separated product, hydrogen gas, which is isotopically enriched in H versus D 25 fold as compared to the formic acid mixture. The degree of enrichment decreases as the total pressure of the mixture is increased. A possible mechanism accounting for isotope enrichment and the collisionally assisted dissociation is outlined.     

Experimental measurements and kinetic modeling of CO/H2/O2/NOx conversion at high pressure

This paper presents results from lean CO/H₂/O₂/NO_x oxidation experiments conducted at 20–100 bar and 600–900 K. The experiments were carried out in a new high‐pressure laminar flow reactor designed to conduct well‐defined experimental investigations of homogeneous gas phase chemistry at pressures and temperatures up to 100 bar and 925 K. The results have been interpreted in terms of an updated detailed chemical kinetic model, designed to operate also at high pressures. The model, describing H₂/O₂, CO/CO₂, and NO_x chemistry, is developed from a critical review of data for individual elementary reactions, with supplementary rate constants determined from ab initio CBS‐QB3 calculations. New or updated rate constants are proposed for important reactions, including OH + HO₂ ? H₂O + O₂, CO + OH ? [HOCO] ? CO₂ + H, HOCO + OH ? CO + H₂O₂, NO₂ + H₂ ? HNO₂ + H, NO₂ + HO₂ ? HONO/HNO₂ + O₂, and HNO₂(+M) ? HONO(+M). Further validation of the model performance is obtained through comparisons with flow reactor experiments from the literature on the chemical systems H₂/O₂, H₂/O₂/NO₂, and CO/H₂O/O₂ at 780–1100 K and 1–10 bar. Moreover, introduction of the reaction CO + H₂O₂ → HOCO + OH into the model yields an improved prediction, but no final resolution, to the recently debated syngas ignition delay problem compared to previous kinetic models. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 454–480, 2008     

Carbanion rearrangements. Collison induced dissociations of deprotonated alkyl acetoacetates

Deprotonation of methyl acetoacetate yields two enolate ions MeCOC?HCO₂Me (a) and C?H₂COCH₂CO₂Me (b). On collisional activation, ions a and b fragment differently. The major fragmentation of a is specific loss of MeOH through a four-centred transition state to form ^?O(Me)C?C?C?O. In contrast, ion b eliminates CH₂CO to give ^?CH₂CO₂Me. Some rearrangement of b to a is also noted. Rearrangement of a to b is very minor under single collision conditions but at high collision gas pressure rearrangement of a to b is strongly promoted. Similar effects are observed in the collisional activation spectra of MeCOC?(Me)CO₂Me (c) and ^?CH₂COC(Me)CO₂Me (d). The loss of MeOH from (c) proceeds via a six membered transition state to ^?CH₂? CO? C(Me)?C?O; this is a stepwise process in which the deprotonation (step two) is not rate determining. A number of other decompositions occur, these have also been studied by deuterium labelling.     

Why do RuO2 electrodes catalyze electrochemical CO2 reduction to methanol rather than methane or perhaps neither of those?

The electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) on RuO₂ and RuO₂-based electrodes has been shown experimentally to produce high yields of methanol, formic acid and/or hydrogen while methane formation is not detected. This CO₂RR selectivity on RuO₂ is in stark contrast to copper metal electrodes that produce methane and hydrogen in the highest yields whereas methanol is only formed in trace amounts. Density functional theory calculations on RuO₂(110) where only adsorption free energies of intermediate species are considered, i.e. solvent effects and energy barriers are not included, predict however, that the overpotential and the potential limiting step for both methanol and methane are the same. In this work, we use both ab initio molecular dynamics simulations at room temperature and total energy calculations to improve the model system and methodology by including both explicit solvation effects and calculations of proton–electron transfer energy barriers to elucidate the reaction mechanism towards several CO₂RR products: methanol, methane, formic acid, CO and methanediol, as well as for the competing H₂ evolution. We observe a significant difference in energy barriers towards methane and methanol, where a substantially larger energy barrier is calculated towards methane formation than towards methanol formation, explaining why methanol has been detected experimentally but not methane. Furthermore, the calculations show why RuO₂ also catalyzes the CO₂RR towards formic acid and not CO(g) and methanediol, in agreement with experimental results. However, our calculations predict RuO₂ to be much more selective towards H₂ formation than for the CO₂RR at any applied potential. Only when a large overpotential of around −1 V is applied, can both formic acid and methanol be evolved, but low faradaic efficiency is predicted because of the more facile H₂ formation.

Energy barriers are calculated for the electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction on the RuO₂(110) surface towards methanol, methane, formic acid, methanediol, CO and the competing H₂ formation and compared with experimental literature.     

Photolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

The photolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) films was studied in vacuo with light of wavelengths 2537 and 3130 A. A very stable filter system which cuts out the 3025 A. line was developed to isolate 3130 A. from a mercury spectrum. Despite the fact that the penetration of 2537 A. light was limited to a depth of a ca. 10³ A. whereas 3130 A. light was more uniformly absorbed it was possible to demonstrate that the quantum yields for CO and CO₂ formation were in agreement for the two wavelengths. Quantum yields for fractures and crosslinks were estimated by sol-gel analysis. An absorption maximum which develops near 13 μ after exposure of poly(ethylene terephthalate) to light or γ-rays was attributed to the formation of groups formed by elimination of CO and CO₂. ESR spectra for trapped radicals were tentatively assigned to the components p-C₆H₃· and ·O? CH₂? CH₂? . It is suggested that the former radicals combine to form crosslinks. Quantum yields (× 10⁴) with 3130 A. light are: CO, 6; CO₂, 2; crosslinks, 5.5; trapped radicals, 1.5; With 2537 A. light, quantum yields are: CO, 6–9; CO₂, 2–3; the network formed was not characterized as to crosslinks and fractures; trapped radicals were observed to exist but not determined.     

Threshold energies for production of CH2(3B1) and CH2(1A1) from ketene photolysis. The CH2(3B1) ↔ CH2(1A1) energy splitting

By measuring the relative CO quantum yields from ketene photolysis as a function of photolysis wavelength we have determined the threshold energy at 25° for CH₂CO(¹A₁) → CH₂(³B₁) + CO(¹Σ⁺) to be 75.7 ± 1.0 kcal/mole. This corresponds to a value of 90.7 ± 1.0 kcal/mole for ΔH_f298⁰[CH₂(³B₁)]. By measuring the relative ratio of CH₂(¹A₁)/CH₂(³B₁) from ketene photolysis as a function of photolysis wavelength we have determined the threshold energy at 25°C for CH₂CO(¹A₁) → CH₂(¹A₁) + CO(¹Σ⁺) to be 84.0 ± 0.6 kcal/mole. This corresponds to a value of 99.0 ± 0.6 kcal/mole for ΔH_f298⁰[CH₂(¹A₁)]. Thus a value for the CH₂(³B₁) ? CH₂(¹A₁) energy splitting of 8.3 ± 1 kcal/mole is determined, which agrees with three other recent independent experimental estimates and the most recent quantum theoretical calculations.     

Formic acid catalyzed gas-phase reaction of H2O with SO3 and the reverse reaction: a theoretical study

The formic acid catalyzed gas‐phase reaction between H₂O and SO₃ and its reverse reaction are respectively investigated by means of quantum chemical calculations at the CCSD(T)//B3LYP/cc‐pv(T+d)z and CCSD(T)//MP2/aug‐cc‐pv(T+d)z levels of theory. Remarkably, the activation energy relative to the reactants for the reaction of H₂O with SO₃ is lowered through formic acid catalysis from 15.97 kcal mol^?1 to ?15.12 and ?14.83 kcal mol^?1 for the formed H₂O ??? SO₃ complex plus HCOOH and the formed H₂O ??? HCOOH complex plus SO₃, respectively, at the CCSD(T)//MP2/aug‐cc‐pv(T+d)z level. For the reverse reaction, the energy barrier for decomposition of sulfuric acid is reduced to ?3.07 kcal mol^?1 from 35.82 kcal mol^?1 with the aid of formic acid. The results show that formic acid plays a strong catalytic role in facilitating the formation and decomposition of sulfuric acid. The rate constant of the SO₃+H₂O reaction with formic acid is 10⁵ times greater than that of the corresponding reaction with water dimer. The calculated rate constant for the HCOOH+H₂SO₄ reaction is about 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1 in the temperature range 200–280 K. The results of the present investigation show that formic acid plays a crucial role in the cycle between SO₃ and H₂SO₄ in atmospheric chemistry.     

CF3CH(ONO)CF3: Synthesis,IR spectrum,and use as OH radical source for kinetic and mechanistic studies

The synthesis, IR spectrum, and first‐principles characterization of CF₃CH(ONO)CF₃ as well as its use as an OH radical source in kinetic and mechanistic studies are reported. CF₃CH(ONO)CF₃ exists in two conformers corresponding to rotation about the RCO? NO bond. The more prevalent trans conformer accounts for the prominent IR absorption features at frequencies (cm^?1) of 1766 (N?O stretch), 1302, 1210, and 1119 (C? F stretches), and 761 (O? N? O bend); the cis conformer contributes a number of distinct weaker features. CF₃CH(ONO)CF₃ was readily photolyzed using fluorescent blacklamps to generate CF₃C(O)CF₃ and, by implication, OH radicals in 100% yield. CF₃CH(ONO)CF₃ photolysis is a convenient source of OH radicals in the studies of the yields of CO, CO₂, HCHO, and HC(O)OH products which can be difficult to measure using more conventional OH radical sources (e.g., CH₃ONO photolysis). CF₃CH(ONO)CF₃ photolysis was used to measure k(OH + C₂H₄)/k(OH + C₃H₆) = 0.29 ± 0.01 and to establish upper limits of 16 and 6% for the molar yields of CO and HC(O)OH from the reaction of OH radicals with benzene in 700 Torr of air at 296 K. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 35: 159–165, 2003     

The formation of formic acid upon low-temperature condensation of CO2−H2 and CO−H2O gas mixtures dissociated in electric discharge

The formation of formic acid in the low-temperature condensation of CO₂−H₂ and CO−H₂O gas mixtures dissociated in electric discharge was investigated. The gas-phase concentrations of H^., O^., OH^., and O₂ were measured downstream a microwave discharge in a CO₂−H₂ mixture. Low-temperature (77 K) condensates formed from CO₂−H₂ and CO−H₂O mixtures were studied by ESR. The formation of formic acid in the CO₂−H₂ and CO−H₂O systems was found to be due to the reactions of H^., CO, O^., and O₂ on the condensate surface. A single mechanism of the formation of formic acid in the CO₂−H₂ and CO−H₂O systems was proposed.     

A Rechargeable Hydrogen Battery Based on Ru Catalysis

Apart from energy generation, the storage and liberation of energy are among the major problems in establishing a sustainable energy supply chain. Herein we report the development of a rechargeable H₂ battery which is based on the principle of the Ru‐catalyzed hydrogenation of CO₂ to formic acid (charging process) and the Ru‐catalyzed decomposition of formic acid to CO₂ and H₂ (discharging process). Both processes are driven by the same catalyst at elevated temperature either under pressure (charging process) or pressure‐free conditions (discharging process). Up to five charging–discharging cycles were performed without decrease of storage capacity. The resulting CO₂/H₂ mixture is free of CO and can be employed directly in fuel‐cell technology.     

Computational Design of Iron Diphosphine Complexes with Pendant Amines for Hydrogenation of CO2 to Methanol: A Mimic of [NiFe] Hydrogenase

Inspired by the active‐site structure of the [NiFe] hydrogenase, we have computationally designed the iron complex [P^tBu₂N^tBu₂)Fe(CN)₂CO] by using an experimentally ready‐made diphosphine ligand with pendant amines for the hydrogenation of CO₂ to methanol. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the rate‐determining step in the whole catalytic reaction is the direct hydride transfer from the Fe center to the carbon atom in the formic acid with a total free energy barrier of 28.4 kcal mol^?1 in aqueous solution. Such a barrier indicates that the designed iron complex is a promising low‐cost catalyst for the formation of methanol from CO₂ and H₂ under mild conditions. The key role of the diphosphine ligand with pendent amine groups in the reaction is the assistance of the cleavage of H₂ by forming a Fe?H^δ????H^δ+?N dihydrogen bond in a fashion of frustrated Lewis pairs.     

Preparation of siloxycarbenemanganese complexes including a chelated siloxycarbene-alkene complex

Reaction of Li{(η⁵-C₅H₄Me)Mn(CO)₂]C(O)Ph]} with one equivalent of RSiMe₂Cl yields (η⁵-C₅H₄Me)Mn(CO)₂[C(Ph)(OSiMe₂R)] for R  CH₃, CHCH₂, and CH₂CHCH₂ (1a–c, respectively). Low temperature photolysis of the vinyl derivative, 1b, results in formation of a chelated manganese siloxycarbene-alkene complex, (η⁵-C₅H₄Me)MN(CO)[C(Ph)(η²-OSiMe₂CHCH₂)]. (2). Photolysis of the allyl derivative, 1c, under similar conditions leads to uncharacterized decomposition products. Infrared, ¹H, ¹³C, and ²⁹Si NMR data are reported for these new siloxycarbenemanganese derivatives.     

Heat of formation of Benzophenone Oxide

The heat of formation of benzophenone oxide, Ph₂CO₂, was measured using photoacoustic calorimetry. The enthalpy of the reaction Ph₂CN₂ + O₂ → Ph₂CO₂ + N₂ was found to be ?48.0 ±0.8 kcal mol^?1 and ΔH_f(Ph₂CN₂) was determined by measuring the reaction enthalpy for Ph₂CN₂ + EtOH → Ph₂CHOEt + N₂ (?53.6 ±1.0 kcal mol^?1). Taking ΔH_f(PhCHOEt) = ?10.6 kcal mol^?1 led to ΔH_f(Ph₂CN₂) = 99.2 ± 1.5 kcal mol^?1 and hence to ΔH_f(Ph₂CO₂) = 51.1 ± 2.0 kcal mol^?1. The results imply that the self-reaction of benzophenone oxide i.e., 2Ph₂CO₂ → 2Ph₂CO + O₂ is exothermic by ?76.0 ±4.0 kcal mol^?1.     

Microwave assisted synthesis of 3-aminoindole-2-carbonitriles from anthranilonitriles via N-unprotected 2-(cyanomethylamino)benzonitriles

Anthranilonitrile 3a, 4,5-dimethoxyanthranilonitrile 3b and 5-nitroanthranilonitrile 3c, react with paraformaldehyde, KCN and ZnCl₂ in acetic acid under acid catalysis (H₂SO₄) in a sealed tube at ca. 55 °C to give the corresponding 2-(cyanomethylamino)benzonitriles 4a-c in 96, 86 and 57% yields, respectively. Thorpe-Ziegler cyclisation of the N-unprotected 2-(cyanomethylamino)benzonitriles 4a-c with K₂CO₃ in EtOH at elevated temperatures and pressures using either microwave heating or conventional heating in a sealed tube gives 3-amino, 3-amino-5,6-dimethoxy, and 3-amino-5-nitroindole-2-carbonitriles 2a-c in moderate to good yields. All new compounds are fully characterised.     

The radiolysis of mixtures of carbon dioxide and hydrogen

The self-radiolysis of CO₂ in excess tritium (³H₂) has been studied at pressures of 0.1 to 1.0 atm, temperatures of ?80° to +100°C, and in the presence of added H₂O, He, or Ar. The primary products of decomposition are CO and ³H₂O. Secondary products are C³H₄, C₂³H₄, and a white polymer. The rates of disappearance of CO₂ and formation of products and G-;values were measured. The disappearance of CO₂ initially obeys first-order kinetics, then slows down with time at a rate depending upon the initial pressure of ³H₂. The initial rates are proportional to pressures of CO₂ and ³H₂. They are independent of temperature, decreased by addition of H₂O vapor, and increased by addition of He or Ar. The proposed mechanism of decomposition of CO₂ and formation of products involves ionization of CO₂ followed by dissociative recombination forming CO and O. Then the O reacts with a hydrogen-containing species forming OH and H₂O, and a back reaction forms CO₂ from CO and OH.     

Primary photochemical process in norbornadienechromium tetracarbonyl

Low-temperature photolysis of NbdCr(CO)₄(I) (Nbd  norbornadiene) in the presence of triphenylphosphine yields trans-NbdCr(CO)₃[P(C₆H₅)₃]. The quantum yields of the room-temperature photoinduced conversion of I in the presence of H₂, of P(C₆H₅)₃ and of both reagents, are respectively 0.140, 0.105 and 0.104. Primary photoinduced formation of monodentate I is shown to account for these observations.     

Strongly fluorescent dipyrrinones—substituent effects

Bright yellow N,N'‐carbonyl‐bridged dipyrrinones (substituted 3H,5H‐dipyrrolo[1,2‐c:2′,1′‐f]pyrimidine‐3,5‐diones) were synthesized by reaction of the parent dipyrrinone with carbonyldiimidazole. Their solutions in organic solvents fluoresced strongly, with fluorescent quantum yields (?_F)0.32‐0.92.     

Study of mechanism and kinetic modeling of CO hydrogenation reaction over the impregnated Co-Ni/Al2O3 catalyst

An investigation of the kinetic and mechanism of CO hydrogenation reaction was performed on impregnated Co-Ni/Al₂O₃. Determination of kinetic parameters from the experiments was carried out in a micro fixed-bed reactor. Kinetic evaluations were performed under various operational conditions of T = 473–673 K, p = 1–14 bar, H₂/CO = 1–3, and GHSV = 4,500 hr⁻¹. Kinetic models and rate equations for CO consumption were obtained by using two main-type rate equations of Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW) and Eley-Rideal (ER). Estimation of various kinetic parameters was performed using a nonlinear regression method. According to the obtained experimental results and using statistical criteria, one kinetic expression based on the LHHW mechanism (-r_CO = k_p.b_CO.P_CO. b_H2. P_H2/[1+ b_CO.P_CO + b_H2.P_H2]²) was chosen as the best-fitted model. For this fitted model, the activation energy was found to be 109.2 kJ/mol. Characterization of the catalyst was also performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometer (EDS) techniques.     

Homogeneous Molecular Iron Catalysts for Direct Photocatalytic Conversion of Formic Acid to Syngas (CO+H2)

The catalytic decomposition of formic acid to generate syngas (a mixture of H₂ and CO) is a highly valuable strategy for energy conversion. Syngas can be used directly in internal combustion engines or can be converted to liquid fuels, meeting future energy challenges in a sustainable manner. Herein, we report the use of homogeneous molecular iron catalysts combined with a CdS nanorods (NRs) semiconductor to construct a highly efficient photocatalytic system for direct conversion of formic acid to syngas at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Under optimal conditions, the photocatalytic system presents an activity of 150 mmol g_catalyst^?1 h^?1 towards H₂, and an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 16.8 %, making it among the most active noble‐metal‐free photocatalytic systems for H₂ evolution from formic acid under visible light. Meanwhile, these iron‐based molecular catalysts also demonstrate remarkable enhancement in CO evolution with robust stability. The mechanistic role of the molecular catalyst is further investigated by using cyclic voltammetry, which suggests the formation of Fe^I species as the key step in the catalytic conversion of formic acid to syngas.