Hydrogen‐Abstraction/Acetylene‐Addition Exposed

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are omnipresent in the interstellar medium (ISM) and also in carbonaceous meteorites (CM) such as Murchison. However, the basic reaction routes leading to the formation of even the simplest PAH—naphthalene (C₁₀H₈)—via the hydrogen‐abstraction/acetylene‐addition (HACA) mechanism still remain ambiguous. Here, by revealing the uncharted fundamental chemistry of the styrenyl (C₈H₇) and the ortho‐vinylphenyl radicals (C₈H₇)—key transient species of the HACA mechanism—with acetylene (C₂H₂), we provide the first solid experimental evidence on the facile formation of naphthalene in a simulated combustion environment validating the previously postulated HACA mechanism for these two radicals. This study highlights, at the molecular level spanning combustion and astrochemistry, the importance of the HACA mechanism to the formation of the prototype PAH naphthalene.     

Reactivity of the Indenyl Radical (C9H7) with Acetylene (C2H2) and Vinylacetylene (C4H4)

The reactions of the indenyl radicals with acetylene (C₂H₂) and vinylacetylene (C₄H₄) is studied in a hot chemical reactor coupled to synchrotron based vacuum ultraviolet ionization mass spectrometry. These experimental results are combined with theory to reveal that the resonantly stabilized and thermodynamically most stable 1-indenyl radical (C₉H₇^.) is always formed in the pyrolysis of 1-, 2-, 6-, and 7-bromoindenes at 1500 K. The 1-indenyl radical reacts with acetylene yielding 1-ethynylindene plus atomic hydrogen, rather than adding a second acetylene molecule and leading to ring closure and formation of fluorene as observed in other reaction mechanisms such as the hydrogen abstraction acetylene addition or hydrogen abstraction vinylacetylene addition pathways. While this reaction mechanism is analogous to the bimolecular reaction between the phenyl radical (C₆H₅^.) and acetylene forming phenylacetylene (C₆H₅CCH), the 1-indenyl+acetylene→1-ethynylindene+hydrogen reaction is highly endoergic (114 kJ mol⁻¹) and slow, contrary to the exoergic (−38 kJ mol⁻¹) and faster phenyl+acetylene→phenylacetylene+hydrogen reaction. In a similar manner, no ring closure leading to fluorene formation was observed in the reaction of 1-indenyl radical with vinylacetylene. These experimental results are explained through rate constant calculations based on theoretically derived potential energy surfaces.     

Hydrogen Abstraction/Acetylene Addition Revealed

For almost half a century, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been proposed to play a key role in the astrochemical evolution of the interstellar medium (ISM) and in the chemistry of combustion systems. However, even the most fundamental reaction mechanism assumed to lead to the simplest PAH naphthalene—the hydrogen abstraction–acetylene addition (HACA) mechanism—has eluded experimental observation. Here, by probing the phenylacetylene (C₈H₆) intermediate together with naphthalene (C₁₀H₈) under combustion‐like conditions by photo‐ionization mass spectrometry, the very first direct experimental evidence for the validity of the HACA mechanism which so far had only been speculated theoretically is reported.     

Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Ammonia Borane Mediated by a Pt(0)/Borane Frustrated Lewis Pair: Theoretical Design

A new efficient metal-based frustrated Lewis pair constructed by (P^tBu₃)₂Pt and B(C₆F₅)₃ was designed through density functional theory calculations for the catalytic dehydrogenation of ammonia borane (AB). The reaction was composed by the successive dehydrogenation of AB and H₂ liberation, which occurs through the cooperative functions of the Pt(0) center and the B(C₆F₅)₃ moiety. Two equivalents of H₂ were predicted to be liberated from each AB molecule. The generation of the second H2 is the rate-determining step, with a Gibbs energy barrier and reaction energy of 27.4 and 12.8 kcal/mol, respectively.     

Characterization of titanocenium and titanocene by tandem mass spectrometry

Tandem mass spectrometric techniques were used for the characterization of gas-phase titanocenium ions. Decomposition of metastable and collisionally activated C₁₀H₁₀Ti^+˙ ions involved cyclopentadienyl–metal bond rupture, acetylene loss and dehydrogenation as the prominent processes. The intermediate formation of titanium (di)hydride complexes was proposed to explain the selective H₂ molecule loss. The neutralization–reionization mass spectrum showed a very abundant recovery signal, indicating a high stability for the neutral gas-phase C₁₀H₁₀Ti species.     

负载PtSn金属助剂的镁铝水滑石上的丙烷脱氢反应研究

我们研究了以镁铝水滑石作为载体,利用水滑石层间阴离子的可交换性,负载活性金属铂和锡的丙烷脱氢反应.在镁铝水滑石载体中加入Ga能够影响丙烷脱氢活性,当镓的含量为1%时催化剂丙烷脱氢反应活性最高,反应初始时,丙烷转化率为46.5%,反应2 h后,丙烷转化率仍有37.5%.当以Mg(Ga)(Al)O-1%为载体时,考察了不同H_2/C_3H_8摩尔比对丙烷脱氢活性的影响,结果表明当H_2/C_3H_8摩尔比为0.5∶1时,丙烷脱氢反应具有最佳的反应活性,即当在原料气中加入H_2时,能够使得丙烷脱氢的转化率大幅度提升,且选择性也有所提升.烷烃脱氢是一个吸热反应,同时考察了温度对烷烃脱氢反应性能影响,结果表明温度越高,丙烷脱氢反应具有更高的转化率.对催化剂进行长时间寿命实验考察,发现当反应经过40 h后,丙烷的转化率仍有23.5%,说明Pt Sn-Mg(Ga)(Al)O-1%催化剂具有较好的稳定性.     

CoCpBr Intermediates in the cyclopentadienylation of CoBr2 with NaCp

Reaction of CoBr₂ and NaCp (Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅) at low temperature followed by addition of a diene or acetylene gives the complexes CoCp(diene). The scope and mechanism of this novel reaction have been investigated.     

Selective Formation of Indene through the Reaction of Benzyl Radicals with Acetylene

The combustion of fossil fuels forms polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) composed of five‐ and six‐ membered aromatic rings, such as indene (C₉H₈), which are carcinogenic, mutagenic, and deleterious to the environment. Indene, the simplest PAH with single five‐ and six‐membered rings, has been predicted theoretically to be formed through the reaction of benzyl radicals with acetylene. Benzyl radicals are found in significant concentrations in combustion flames, owing to their highly stable aromatic and resonantly stabilized free‐radical character. We provide compelling experimental evidence that indene is synthesized through the reaction of the benzyl radical (C₇H₇) with acetylene (C₂H₂) under combustion‐like conditions at 600 K. The mechanism involves an initial addition step followed by cyclization and aromatization through atomic hydrogen loss. This reaction was found to form the indene isomer exclusively, which, in conjunction with the high concentrations of benzyl and acetylene in combustion environments, indicates that this pathway is the predominant route to synthesize the prototypical five‐ and six‐membered PAH.     

The reaction of the hydroxyl radical with acetylene

The reaction of OH with acetylene was studied in a discharge flow system at room temperature. OH was generated by the reaction of atomic hydrogen with NO₂ and was monitored throughout the reaction using ESR spectroscopy. Mass-spectrometric analysis of the reaction products yielded the following results: (1) less than 3 molecules of OH were consumed, and less than 2 molecules of H₂O were formed for every molecule of acetylene that reacted; (2) CO was identified as the major carbon-containing product; (3) NO, formed in the generation of OH, reacted with a reaction intermediate to give among other products N₂O. These observations placed severe limitations on the choice of a reaction mechanism. A mechanism containing the reaction OH + C₂H₂ → HC₂O + H₂ better accounted for the experimental results than one involving the abstraction reaction OH + C₂H₂ → C₂H + H₂O. The rate constant for the initial reaction was measured as 1.9 ± 0.6 × 10^?13 cm³ molecule^?1 sec^?1.     

Theoretical study of reactions between MH (M=B,Al) and the H2S molecule

Reaction mechanisms between MH (M=B, Al) and the H₂S molecule have been theoretically studied. The G3 ab initio and DFT calculations demonstrate that only one stable addition complex (HM:SH₂, M=B, Al) can be formed, and that, starting from the addition complex (HM:SH₂) two parallel reaction channels have been found: one is an addition reaction to give H₂MSH via the three‐membered ring transition state (TS), and the other is a dehydrogenation reaction to give MSH+H₂ via the four‐membered ring TS. Thermodynamics and Eyring transition state theory (TST) with the Wigner correction are also used to compute the thermodynamic functions, the equilibrium constants, A factors, and the rate constants of these reaction channels at 300–1500 K. The calculated results predict that the product H₂BSH in the system of BH+H₂S and the product AlSH+H₂ in the system of AlH+H₂S will be mainly observed. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2001     

Theoretical study of reactions between AlH(1Σ) and HF molecule

Reaction mechanisms between AlH (¹Σ) and HF molecule are theoretically investigated. Ab initio calculations demonstrate that there are two parallel reaction channels: one is an addition reaction to give H₂AlF via the three‐membered ring transition state (TS) and the other is a dehydrogenation reaction to give AlF+H₂ via the four‐membered ring TS. The addition reaction is thermodynamically favorable and the dehydrogenation reaction is kinetically favorable. Thermodynamics and Eyring transition state theory (TST) with the Wigner correction are also used to compute the thermodynamic functions, the equilibrium constants, A factors, and the rate constants of these reaction channels at 200–1000 K. From the thermodynamics and TST calculations, it is valuable to point out that consideration on the entropy and thermal enthalpy is quite important in the study of chemical reactions on the basis of ab initio method. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 73: 417–424, 1999     

Structural, electronic, and vibrational properties of acetylene on Pd(100) doped with Sn or Pb: A DFT cluster model study

Some structural, electronic, and vibrational properties of the acetylene (C₂H₂) molecule adsorbed at various sites on the Pd(100) surface doped with Sn or Pb are determined theoretically. The calculations were performed using the B3LYP hybrid density functional, and the Sn- or Pb-doped Pd(100) surfaces were represented by a cluster model approach. It is found that the geometry of the C₂H₂ molecule adsorbed in di- σ configurations is highly perturbed with respect to the structure of acetylene in the gas phase. By contrast, the geometry of acetylene adsorbed in π configurations on the doped surfaces shows a much smaller distortion. Apart from calculating the properties of the adsorbed C₂H₂ molecule, the effect of the dopants, i.e. Sn and Pb atoms, on these properties is established by comparing the properties of acetylene adsorbed on the Sn- or Pb-doped Pd(100) surfaces with its properties on the monometallic Pd(100) surface. The results indicate that the geometry of the adsorbed C₂H₂ molecule is similar on the doped and monometallic Pd(100) surfaces.     

Gas-phase reactions of cationic molybdenum and tungsten monoxide with ethanol: a combined experimental/computational exercise

The ion/molecule reactions of molybdenum and tungsten monoxide cations MO⁺ (M═Mo, W) with ethanol have been studied by Fourier transform ion-cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. As observed in the previously reported reactions of MO₂ ⁺ (M═Mo, W) towards ethanol, the dehydration of ethanol to give rise to the elimination of neutral C₂H₄ constitutes also the dominating reaction channel for the monoxides. Likewise, both systems result in a combined dehydrogenation/dehydration process, thus forming the ionic product MOC₂H₂ ⁺; moreover, the tungsten system presents two additional reaction channels: double dehydrogenation of ethanol with concomitant formation of the ionic product WO₂C₂H₂ ⁺ and the generation of C₂H₅ ⁺ which takes place by OH^? transfer from ethanol to the tungsten atom. This combined experimental/computational study of gas-phase ion molecule reactions may shed some new light on the mechanisms that occur in complex catalytic systems.     

A DFT study on the healing of N‐vacancy defects in boron nitride nanosheets and nanotubes by a methylene molecule

In the present work, density functional theory calculations are used to investigate the healing mechanism of a N‐vacancy defect in boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS) or nanotube (BNNT) with a CH₂ molecule. The healing process starts with the chemisorption of CH₂ at the defect site, followed by its dehydrogenation over the surface. Next, a H₂ molecule is produced which can be easily released from the surface due to its small adsorption energy. For the dehydrogenation of CH₂ molecule over the defective BNNS or BNNT, the first C? H bond dissociation is the rate determining step. Our results indicate that the dehydrogenation of CH₂ over BNNS is both thermodynamically and kinetically more favorable than over BNNT. Besides, this study proposes a novel method for achieving C‐doped BNNSs and BNNTs. Given that the healing process proceeds without using a metal catalyst, therefore, no any purification is needed to remove the catalyst.     

Cyclotrimerization of acetylene by the tris(acetylacetonato)titanium(III)–diethylaluminum chloride system

Reaction of acetylene with tris(acetylacetonato)titanium(III) and diethylaluminum chloride system leads to formation of benzene, a trace of ethylbenzene, and a small amount of polyacetylene. The isotopic composition of products obtained from cyclotrimerization of acetylene-d₂ and an equimolar mixture of acetylene and acetylene-d₂ is investigated to elucidate the mechanism of the cyclotrimerization. The results suggest a mechanism in which an acetylene inserts into the metal—ethyl bond formed by reaction of Ti(acac)₃ and Al(C₂H₅)₂Cl, followed by insertion of two acetylene molecules and elimination of a hydrogen atom from the first inserted acetylene to yield an ethylbenzene and a metal hydride intermediate. The metal hydride intermediate catalyzes acetylene cyclotrimerization to give benzene. During the reaction, the hydrogen atom in the metal hydride intermediate does not exchange with the hydrogen atom in the inserted acetylene molecules.     

An ab initio quantum chemical study of reaction mechanisms in the C2H2/CH3OH/KOH/DMSO system

An ab initio quantum chemical study (MP2/6-311++G**//B3LYP/6-31+G*) of a number of possible interactions is performed for the gas phase system of acetylene—potassium hydroxide-dimethylsulfoxide(DMSO)—methanol and with regard to the solvent effect within the continuum model. Key structures in the vinylation reaction are shown to be methoxide ion complexes with the alkali metal hydroxide and acetylene molecules. The formation of these complexes results in the activation of the acetylene molecule and an increase in the nucleophilicity of the methoxide ion. In the C₂H₂/CH₃OH/KOH/DMSO reaction system, a proton exchange between the acetylene molecule and the anionic nucleophile ([OH]^- and [CH₃O]^-) is freely performed with the formation of systems with ethynideions, whereas the thermodynamically preferable formation of vinyl alcohol or methyl vinyl ether is determined by a barrier of 20 kcal/mol.     

Synthesis and spectral properties of new 3,3’-bis(dipyrrolylmethene) with acetylene spacer

Bis(2,4,7,9-tetramethyl-8-ethyldipyrrolylmethen-3-yl)acetylene dihydrobromide (H₂L·2HBr), new bis(dipyrrolylmethene), in whose molecule dipyrrolylmethene domains were connected through 3,3′-carbon atoms of internal pyrrole nuclei by acetylene spacer, were synthesized by original procedure. The compound was characterized by element analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, and electronic spectroscopy. The comparative analysis of spectral properties shows the reduction of the basicity of H₂L ligand in comparison with the structural analogs, which contain internal methylene spacer. The quantum-chemical simulation showed that the rigid acetylene spacer gives linear structure to the H₂L molecule in contrast to the spiral-shaped geometry of structural analogs with -CH₂- spacer.     

Structural Mimics of Acetylene Hydratase: Tungsten Complexes Capable of Intramolecular Nucleophilic Attack on Acetylene

Bioinspired complexes employing the ligands 6-tert-butylpyridazine-3-thione (SPn) and pyridine-2-thione (SPy) were synthesized and fully characterized to mimic the tungstoenzyme acetylene hydratase (AH). The complexes [W(CO)(C₂H₂)(CHCH-SPy)(SPy)] ( 4 ) and [W(CO)(C₂H₂)(CHCH-SPn)(SPn)] ( 5 ) were formed by intramolecular nucleophilic attack of the nitrogen donors of the ligand on the coordinated C₂H₂ molecule. Labelling experiments using C₂D₂ with the SPy system revealed the insertion reaction proceeding via a bis-acetylene intermediate. The starting complex [W(CO)(C₂H₂)(SPy)₂] ( 6 ) for these studies was accessed by the new acetylene precursor mixture [W(CO)(C₂H₂)_n(MeCN)_3−nBr₂] (n=1 and 2; 7 ). All complexes represent rare examples in the field of W−C₂H₂ chemistry with 4 and 5 being the first of their kind. In the ongoing debate on the enzymatic mechanism, the findings support activation of acetylene by the tungsten center.     

Theoretical investigation of the gas-phase reaction of NiO+ with ethane

To explore the mechanisms for Ni-based oxide-catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) reactions, we investigate the reactions of C₂H₆ with NiO⁺ using density functional calculations. Two possible reaction pathways are identified, which lead to the formation of ethanol (path 1), ethylene and water (path 2). The proportion of products is discussed by Curtin-Hammett principle, and the result shows that path 2 is the main reaction channel and the water and ethylene are the main products. In order to get a deeper understanding of the titled reaction, numerous means of analysis methods including the atoms in molecules (AIM), electron localization function (ELF), natural bond orbital (NBO), and density of states (DOS) are used to study the properties of the chemical bonding evolution along the reaction pathways.

     

On the unimolecular loss of acetylene from metastable C11H9]+ ions

Extensive ¹³C labelling experiments demonstrate that loss of acetylene from metastable [C₁₁H₉]⁺ ions is a complex process, which can be described quantitatively in terms of a four-parameter model. The major reaction path (77.8%) involves scrambling of all 11 carbon atoms. Insight into the reaction details is provided neither by the kinetic energy release associated with the reaction [C₁₁H₉]⁺ → [C₉H₇]⁺ + C₂H₂ nor by the analysis of the collisional activation mass spectra of the resulting [C₉H₇]⁺ ions.