Discrete Hf18 Metal‐oxo Cluster as a Heterogeneous Nanozyme for Site‐Specific Proteolysis

The selective hydrolysis of proteins by non‐enzymatic catalysis is difficult to achieve, yet it is crucial for applications in biotechnology and proteomics. Herein, we report that discrete hafnium metal‐oxo cluster [Hf₁₈O₁₀(OH)₂₆(SO₄)₁₃?(H₂O)₃₃] ( Hf₁₈ ), which is centred by the same hexamer motif found in many MOFs, acts as a heterogeneous catalyst for the efficient hydrolysis of horse heart myoglobin (HHM) in low buffer concentrations. Among 154 amino acids present in the sequence of HHM, strictly selective cleavage at only 6 solvent accessible aspartate residues was observed. Mechanistic experiments suggest that the hydrolytic activity is likely derived from the actuation of Hf^IV Lewis acidic sites and the Brønsted acidic surface of Hf₁₈ . X‐ray scattering and ESI‐MS revealed that Hf₁₈ is completely insoluble in these conditions, confirming the HHM hydrolysis is caused by a heterogeneous reaction of the solid Hf₁₈ cluster, and not from smaller, soluble Hf species that could leach into solution.     

The Synthesis of Quinazolinones from Olefins,CO, and Amines over a Heterogeneous Ru‐clusters/Ceria Catalyst

Quinazolinones, an important class of heterocyclic compounds, have been widely used in pharmaceuticals because of their biological activity. However, the efficient and economical synthesis of quinazolinones has remained a challenge. A novel synthetic approach has now been developed to produce quinazolinones from olefins, CO, and amines over heterogeneous Ru‐clusters/ceria catalyst in the absence of acids, bases, and oxidants. Furthermore, H₂O is generated as the only by‐product. A series of quinazolinones with aromatic or non‐aromatic substituents can be obtained in yields of up to 99 %. The Ru‐clusters/ceria can be reused at least four times. The analysis of the E‐factor (environmental impact factor) for the synthesis of 2‐ethyl quinazolinone suggests that this system is more environmentally friendly than other processes reported previously.     

Recent Advances in Heterogeneous Catalytic Systems Containing Metal Ions for Phosphate Ester Hydrolysis

Organophosphates are a class of organic compounds that are important for living organisms, forming the building blocks for DNA, RNA, and some essential cofactors. Furthermore, non-natural organophosphates are widely used in industrial applications, including as pesticides; in laundry detergents; and, unfortunately, as chemical weapons agents. In some cases, the natural degradation of organophosphates can take thousands of years; this longevity creates problems associated with handling and the storage of waste generated by such phosphate esters, in particular. Efforts to develop new catalysts for the cleavage of phosphate esters have progressed in recent decades, mainly in the area of homogeneous catalysis. In contrast, the development of heterogeneous catalysts for the hydrolysis of organophosphates has not been as prominent. Herein, examples of heterogeneous systems are described and the importance of the development of heterogeneous catalysts applicable to organophosphate hydrolysis is highlighted, shedding light on recent advances related to different solid matrices that have been employed.     

Trinuclear Gold Clusters Supported by Cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene Ligands: Mimics for Gold Heterogeneous Catalysts

The synthesis of air‐ and moisture‐stable trinuclear mixed‐valence gold(I)/gold(0) clusters is described. They promote the catalytic carbonylation of amines under relatively mild conditions. The synthetic route leading to the trinuclear clusters involves a simple ligand exchange from the readily available μ³‐oxo‐[(Ph₃PAu)₃O]⁺ complex. This synthetic method paves the way for the preparation of a variety of mixed‐valence gold(I)/gold(0) polynuclear clusters. Moreover, the well‐defined nature of the complexes demonstrates that the catalytic process involves a rare example of a definite change of oxidation state of gold from Au⁰₂Au^I to Au^I₃.     

KG-60-Piperazine as a New Heterogeneous Catalyst for Gewald Three-Component Reaction

Piperazine supported on amorphous silica (KG-60-piperazine) as a basic catalyst acts in the Gewald three-component reaction of some aldehydes and ketones with malononitrile as well as ethyl cyanoacetate. The catalyst shows general utility with a variety of starting carbonyl compounds. Moreover, the catalyst can be reused for four additional cycles without significant loss of the activity.

Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® to view the free supplemental file.     

CO oxidation as a prototypical reaction for heterogeneous processes

CO oxidation, although seemingly a simple chemical reaction, provides us with a panacea that reveals the richness and beauty of heterogeneous catalysis. The Fritz Haber Institute is a place where a multidisciplinary approach to study the course of such a heterogeneous reaction can be generated in house. Research at the institute is primarily curiosity driven, which is reflected in the five sections comprising this Review. We use an approach based on microscopic concepts to study the interaction of simple molecules with well-defined materials, such as clusters in the gas phase or solid surfaces. This approach often asks for the development of new methods, tools, and materials to prove them, and it is exactly this aspect, both, with respect to experiment and theory, that is a trade mark of our institute.     

Development of High Performance Heterogeneous Catalysts for Selective Cleavage of C−O and C−C Bonds of Biomass‐Derived Oxygenates

The environmental impact of CO₂ emissions via the use of fossil resources as chemical feedstock and fuels has stimulated research to utilize renewable biomass feedstock. The biogenic compounds such as polyols are highly oxygenated and their valorization requires the new methods to control the oxygen to carbon ratio of the chemicals. The catalytic cleavage of C?O bonds and C?C bonds is promising methods, but the conventional catalyst systems encounter the difficulty to obtain the high yields of the desired products. This review describes our recent development of the high performance heterogeneous catalysts for the valorization of the biogenic chemicals such as glycerol, furfural, and levulinic acid via selective cleavage of C?O bonds and C?C bonds in the liquid‐phase. Selective C?O bond cleavage by hydrogenolysis enables production of various diols useful as engineering plastics, antifreeze, and cosmetics in high yields. The success of the selective C?C bond scission of levulinic acid can be applied to a wide range of the biogenic oxygenates such as carboxylic acids, esters, lactones, and primary alcohols, in which the selective C?C bond scission at adjacent to the oxygen functional groups are achieved. Furthermore, valorization of glycerol by selective acetylation and acetalization, and of levulinic acid by hydrogenation is described. Our catalysts show excellent performance compared to the reported catalysts in the aforementioned valorization.     

Electrical Double Layer as a Model of Interaction between Cellulose and Solid Acid Catalysts of Hydrolysis

Solid acid catalysts of cellulose hydrolysis in aqueous media attract considerable research interest because of the ease of their separation from the reaction products. The nature of interaction between the two solids is a relevant topic of ongoing research. One aspect of behavior of solid acids in water was not previously discussed in literature with regard to hydrolysis of cellulose: electrolytic dissociation and formation of electric double layers. In this work, on theoretical level, we consider the role of the double layer created by the solid acid when cellulose hydrolysis takes place. The diffuse layer of protons is regarded as the medium where the hydrolysis reaction occurs. Protonation of cellulose by these protons imparts positive charge onto its surface, and cellulose is electrostatically attracted to the polyanion of the catalyst. Thus, the two solid surfaces stay close to each other despite Brownian motion; this allows explaining the high activity of solid catalysts even when chemisorption of carbohydrates on a catalyst is not favorable.     

Pd/MIL-101的制备及非均相催化吲哚C-H活化

水热合成MIL-101,过量浸渍法吸附Pd(OAc)_2,原位还原Pd~(2+)制得Pd/MIL-101催化剂.采用XRD、XPS、SEM、ICP、HRTEM和N_2吸/脱附实验对其结构进行表征,催化剂Pd纳米粒子尺寸在1.5~2.5 nm之间,含量为1.5%.催化实验表明,Pd/MIL-101能高效催化吲哚C_2位芳基化,对于活性较差的溴代芳烃,也能得到中等以上的收率,催化剂循环5次后仍能保持较高的反应活性,发展了吲哚C_2位衍生物的简单、高效的合成方法.     

Expeditious Synthesis of Aromatic Cyanodienones Using Neutral Alumina as a Versatile Heterogeneous Catalyst

The work described herein employs neutral alumina as an effective catalyst for ring opening of triarylpyrylium perchlorates to corresponding aromatic cyanodienones, which have main roles in biological activities. The present porous catalyst has several advantages, it is inexpensive, thermally and mechanically stable, nontoxic, and highly resistant against organic solvents. It increases the reaction rate many fold when compared with conventional reaction conditions. Moreover, the recovered alumina can be used several times without serious decrease in activity.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource(s): Full experimental and spectral details.]     

Mild and Efficient Allylation of Indoles and Amides Using Amberlyst-15 as a Recyclable Heterogeneous Catalyst

A mild and efficient allylation of indoles and amides in the presence of a catalytic amount of Amberlyst-15 has been described in this context. The recyclable heterogeneous catalytic system is practical and facile for the synthesis of C- and N-allylated derivatives and would be of importance for the development of the accordingly functional complex molecules.     

Palladium Supported on Porous Organic Polymer as Heterogeneous and Recyclable Catalyst for Cross Coupling Reaction

Palladium immobilized on an amide and ether functionalized porous organic polymer (Pd@AEPOP) is reported to be an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the Heck cross-coupling reaction of aryl iodides with styrene for the synthesis of diphenylethene derivatives. Excellent yields can be obtained using a 0.8 mol% Pd catalyst loading under the optimized reaction condition. The heterogeneous Pd@AEPOP catalyst can also be applied on the Suzuki reaction and the reduction of nitroarene.     

A Polyoxometalate‐Encapsulating Cationic Metal–Organic Framework as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for Desulfurization

A new cationic triazole‐based metal–organic framework encapsulating Keggin‐type polyoxometalates, with the molecular formula [Co(BBPTZ)₃][HPMo₁₂O₄₀]?24 H₂O [compound 1 ; BBPTZ=4,4′‐bis(1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐ylmethyl)biphenyl] is hydrothermally synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X‐ray diffraction, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The structure of compound 1 contains a non‐interpenetrated 3D CdSO₄ (cds)‐type framework with two types of channels that are interconnected with each other; straight channels that are occupied by the Keggin‐type POM anions, and wavelike channels that contain lattice water molecules. The catalytic activity of compound 1 in the oxidative desulfurization reaction indicates that it is not only an effective and size‐selective heterogeneous catalyst, but it also exhibits distinct structural stability in the catalytic reaction system.     

The Planar CoB18− Cluster as a Motif for Metallo‐Borophenes

Monolayer‐boron (borophene) has been predicted with various atomic arrangements consisting of a triangular boron lattice with hexagonal vacancies. Its viability was confirmed by the observation of a planar hexagonal B₃₆ cluster with a central six‐membered ring. Here we report a planar boron cluster doped with a transition‐metal atom in the boron network (CoB₁₈^?), suggesting the prospect of forming stable hetero‐borophenes. The CoB₁₈^? cluster was characterized by photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum chemistry calculations, showing that its most stable structure is planar with the Co atom as an integral part of a triangular boron lattice. Chemical bonding analyses show that the planar CoB₁₈^? is aromatic with ten π‐electrons and the Co atom has strong covalent interactions with the surrounding boron atoms. The current result suggests that transition metals can be doped into the planes of borophenes to create metallo‐borophenes, opening vast opportunities to design hetero‐borophenes with tunable chemical, magnetic, and optical properties.     

Transition-metal complexes as enzyme-like reagents for protein cleavage: complex cis-[Pt(en)(H2O)2]2+ as a new methionine-specific protease

Complex cis-[Pt(en)(H(2)O)(2)](2+) promotes selective hydrolytic cleavage of two proteins, horse cytochrome c and bovine beta-casein. The cleavage is completed in 24 h under relatively mild conditions, at about pH 2.5, and a temperature as low as 40 degrees C. The results of HPLC and TSDS PAGE separations, MALDI mass spectrometry, and Edman sequencing showed that cleavage occurred exclusively at the peptide bond involving the C-terminus of each methionine residue, both such residues in cytochrome c and all six such residues in beta-casein. While having the same selectivity as cyanogen bromide (CNBr), the most common chemical protease, cis-[Pt(en)(H(2)O)(2)](2+) has several advantages. It is nonvolatile, easy to handle, and recyclable. Its cleavage is residue-selective, the rest of the polypeptide backbone remains intact, and the other side chains remain unmodified. It is applied in approximately equimolar amounts with respect to methionine residues, creates free amino and carboxylic groups, and cleaves even the Met-Pro bond, which is resistant to CNBr and most proteolytic enzymes. Finally the complex also works in the presence of the denaturing reagent sodium dodecyl sulfate. Experiments with the synthetic peptides, AcAla-Lys-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Met-Ala-Ala-Arg-Ala (termed Met-peptide) and AcVal-Lys-Gly-Gly-His-Ala-Lys-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Met-Ala-Ala-Arg-Ala (termed HisMet-peptide) as substrates, revealed structural and mechanistic features of the proteolytic reactions. We explain why two similar complexes with similar metal ions, cis-[Pt(en)(H(2)O)(2)](2+) and cis-[Pd(en)(H(2)O)(2)](2+), differ in selectivity as proteolytic reagents. The selectivity of cleavage is governed by the selectivity of the cis-[Pt(en)(H(2)O)(2)](2+) binding to the methionine side chain. The proteolytic activity is governed by the modes of coordination, which control the approach of the anchored Pt(II) ion to the scissile peptide bond. The cleavage occurs with a small, but significant, catalytic turnover of more than 18 after 7 days. The ability of cis-[Pt(en)(H(2)O)(2)](2+) to cleave proteins at relatively few sites, with explicable selectivity and catalytic turnover, bodes well for its use in biochemical practice.     

Heterogeneous synergistic catalysis by a palladium complex and an amine on a silica surface for acceleration of the tsuji-trost reaction

The cooperative surface-catalysis strategy of a Br?nsted acid and an organic base can be extended to a metal complex and organic base pair. A silica-supported diaminopalladium complex and a tertiary amine were prepared and characterized. The Pd-catalyzed Tsuji-Trost reaction was enhanced significantly by the presence of the tertiary amine on the same silica surface as the Pd complex.     

Calcined Mg-Al Layered Double Hydroxide as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Synthesis of Urea Derivatives from Amines and CO2

The calcined Mg‐Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with a Mg/Al molar ratio of 3:1 were synthesized and characterized thoroughly by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), temperature‐programmed desorption (TPD) of CO₂, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Thus the calcined Mg‐Al LDHs were used as catalyst for the catalytic synthesis of disubstituted ureas from amines and CO₂. The effects of reaction time, reaction temperature, pressure, solvent and calcined temperature on activity have been investigated. The results indicated that aliphatic amines, cyclohexylamine and benzylamine can be converted to the corresponding ureas selectively over the calcined Mg‐Al LDHs catalysts with N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP) as solvent without using any dehydrating regent. The catalyst can be recycled several times with only slight loss of activity.     

The Origin of the Selectivity and Activity of Ruthenium‐Cluster Catalysts for Fuel‐Cell Feed‐Gas Purification: A Gas‐Phase Approach

Gas‐phase ruthenium clusters Ru_n⁺ (n=2–6) are employed as model systems to discover the origin of the outstanding performance of supported sub‐nanometer ruthenium particles in the catalytic CO methanation reaction with relevance to the hydrogen feed‐gas purification for advanced fuel‐cell applications. Using ion‐trap mass spectrometry in conjunction with first‐principles density functional theory calculations three fundamental properties of these clusters are identified which determine the selectivity and catalytic activity: high reactivity toward CO in contrast to inertness in the reaction with CO₂; promotion of cooperatively enhanced H₂ coadsorption and dissociation on pre‐formed ruthenium carbonyl clusters, that is, no CO poisoning occurs; and the presence of Ru‐atom sites with a low number of metal–metal bonds, which are particularly active for H₂ coadsorption and activation. Furthermore, comprehensive theoretical investigations provide mechanistic insight into the CO methanation reaction and discover a reaction route involving the formation of a formyl‐type intermediate.