Study of carbon dioxide adsorption on a Cu-nitroprusside polymorph

A careful structural characterization was carried out to unequivocally determine the structure of the synthesized material. The TGA, DRIFTS and a Pawley fitting of the XRD powder profiles indicate that the hydrated and in situ dehydrated polymorph crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma. Meanwhile, the CO₂ isosteric heat of adsorption appears to be independent of loading with an average value of 30 kJ/mol. This translates to a physisorption type interaction, where the adsorption energy corresponding to wall and lateral interactions are mutually compensated to produce, an apparently, homogeneous adsorption energy. The somewhat high adsorption energy is probably due to the confinement of the CO₂ molecules in the nitroprusside pores. Statistical Physics and the Dubinin theory for pore volume filling allowed model the CO₂ equilibrium adsorption process in Cu-nitroprusside. A DRIFTS test for the adsorbed CO₂ displayed a peak at about 2338 cm⁻¹ that was assigned to a contribution due to physical adsorption of the molecule. Another peak found at 2362 cm⁻¹ evidenced that this molecule interacts with the Cu²⁺, which appears to act as an electron accepting Lewis acid site. The aim of the present paper is to report a Pnma stable Cu-nitroprusside polymorph obtained by the precipitation method that can adsorb carbon dioxide.     

EPR study of the mechanism of interaction of NO and NO2 molecules with zeolite surfaces

The adsorption of the paramagnetic molecules of NO and NO₂ by zeolites in the alkali and alkaline earth cationic forms has been studied by EPR and reflectance spectroscopic methods. The change in the EPR spectra of adsorbed nitric oxide with increase in the degree of covering of the surface of the alkali cationic form of the zeolites, and also the nature of the change in the spectra when oxygen is adsorbed on zeolites on which NO has previously been adsorbed, indicate the existence of two types of adsorption center. At low degrees of covering of the surface, on the order of 10¹⁸ g^–1, as can be judged from the EPR spectra, the adsorbed NO molecule is strongly polarized and the unpaired electron is almost completely localized on the oxygen atom. At high degrees of covering, for an appreciable proportion of the NO molecules, the bond with the surface is weaker. In this case, the EPR spectra show a hyperfine structure (HFS) with a constant which changes with change in the cation in the order Li⁺ Na⁺ K⁺. The replacement of the singly charged Na⁺ by the doubly charged Ca²⁺ produces a marked change in the adsorption properties of the zeolite. The adsorption of NO on CaA leads not only to polarization of the adsorbed molecule but also to transfer of the electron from the nitrogen atom to the atoms of the adsorbent; this is recorded in the EPR spectrum in the form of an F-center. On further adsorption, the NO molecules are adsorbed both on the nitrogen atom and on the oxygen atom of the first molecule; thus, NO₂ and N₂O are formed.     

Energetics of hydride and electron pair attachment to EX3 (E = B, C, Al, Si and X = F, Cl, Br, I) and the study of bonding trends among EX3, EX3, and EX3H by use of ELF and NBO analyses

A theoretical gas-phase “ligand-free” or “electron pair affinity” (EPA) approach, based on CCSD(T)/(SDB-)cc-pVTZ//MP2/(SDB-)cc-pVTZ electronic structure calculations, is introduced as a possible means for determining Lewis acidity trends among planar EX₃^0/+ (E = B, C, Al, Si; X = F, Cl, Br, I) species. In this treatment, the free electron pair is considered to be an extreme Lewis base. The calculated EPA values are compared with experimental Lewis acidities, previously calculated fluoride ion affinity (FIA) and hydride ion affinity (HA) trends, and are found to exhibit reasonable correlations in all cases. The bonding in the planar and trigonal pyramidal conformations of EX₃^0/+ and of the trigonal pyramidal Lewis base EX₃^2−/− anions are assessed by use of natural bond orbital (NBO) and natural resonance theory (NRT) analyses. The NBO charges of the CX₃⁺ (X = Cl, Br, I, OTeF₅) cations are shown to correlate with the cation-anion and cation-solvent contacts in the recently determined crystal structures of [CCl₃][Sb(OTeF₅)₆], [CBr₃][Sb(OTeF₅)₆]·SO₂ClF, [CI₃][Al(OC(CF₃)₃)₄], and [C(OTeF₅)₃][Sb(OTeF₅)₆]·3SO₂ClF and known fluoro-carbocation structures. Topological electron localization function (ELF) basin lobe isosurfaces and volumes are used to rationalize the Lewis acidity trends and bond ionicities of the EX₃^0/+ species, and Lewis basicities of the EX₃^2−/− species.     

Theoretical study of the thermochemistry and the kinetics of the SFxCl (x = 0-5) series

A systematic thermodynamic and kinetic study of the entire SF_xCl (x = 0-5) series has been carried out. High-level quantum chemical composite methods have been employed to derive enthalpy of formation values from calculated atomization and isodesmic energies. The resulting values for the SCl, SFCl, SF₂Cl(C₁), SF₃Cl(C_s), SF₄Cl(C_s) and SF₅Cl molecules are 28.0, −36.0, −64.2, −134.3, −158.2 and −237.1 kcal mol⁻¹. A comparison with previous experimental and theoretical values is presented. Statistical adiabatic channel model/classical trajectory, SACM/CT, calculations of selected complex-forming and recombination reactions of F and Cl atoms with radicals of the series have been performed between 200 and 500 K. The reported rate coefficients span over the normal range of about 6 × 10⁻¹² and 5 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹ expected for this type of barrierless reactions.     

Density-functional study for the NOx (x = 1, 2) dissociation mechanism on the Cu(1 1 1) surface

Spin-polarized density functional theory calculation is employed to study the adsorption and dissociation of NO₂ molecule on Cu(1 1 1) surface. It is shown that the most favorable adsorption structure is the NO₂ (T,T-O-,O′-nitrito) configuration which has an adsorption energy of −1.49 eV. The barriers for step-wise NO₂ dissociation reaction, NO_2(g) → N_(a) + 2O_(a), are 1.05 (for O–N–O bond activation), and 2.08 eV (for N–O bond activation), respectively, and the entire process is 0.6 eV exothermic. The energetics of single N–O dissociation with and without the presence of N atom or O atom on the surface are also calculated. The results indicate that in the presence of O atom on Cu(1 1 1) surface would raise the N–O dissociation barrier, whereas in the presence of N atom decrease it. The interaction nature between adsorbates and substrate is analyzed by the local density of states (LDOS) calculation.     

Oxidation of glyoxylic acid by a mononuclear manganese(IV) complex of 1,8-bis(2-hydroxybenzamido)-3,6-diazaoctane: A kinetics and mechanistic study

The oxidation of glyoxylic acid (HGl) by Mn^IVL {L⁴⁻ = tetra deprotonated 1,8-bis(2-hydroxybenzamido)-3,6-diazaoctane} was investigated in the pH range 1.67-10.18, at 25-45 °C and 0.5 M ionic strength. The reaction exhibited biphasic kinetics with Mn^IIIL⁻ as the reactive intermediate. Mn^IV was reduced to Mn^II. The products of oxidation of HGl were identified as formic acid and CO₂ in acidic medium, and oxalate in basic medium, consistent with the stoichiometry: −Δ[Mn^IV]/−Δ[HGl] = 1. In acidic medium, both Mn^IVL and Mn^IIIL⁻ formed outer-sphere adducts with the neutral HGl {HC(OH)₂COOH} molecule, with an association constant Q_av of 28 and 70 M⁻¹, respectively. A similar adduct formation was not observed for the glyoxylate mono anion {Gl⁻, CH(OH)₂(CO₂⁻)} and glyoxylate dianion {Gl²⁻, CH(OH)(O⁻)CO₂⁻}. The rate and activation parameters for the various paths are reported and an outer-sphere electron transfer mechanism is suggested.     

Synthesis and characterization of β-diketiminato complexes of antimony (III) halides

Treatment of SbX₃ (X = Br, Cl) with DippnacnacLi (Dippnacnac = [{N(C₆H₃ⁱPr₂2,6)C(Me)}₂CH]⁻) or Mesnacnac (Mesnacnac = [{N(Mes)C(Me)}₂CH]⁻, Mes = 2,4,6, trimethyl benzene) affords different products that are dependent on the stoichiometry of the reaction and the halide precursor. When DippnacnacLi is reacted with SbBr₃, C-H activation of the ligand backbone is observed and an asymmetric, bridged bromide dimer is isolated. In comparison, the reaction of SbCl₃ with MesnacnacLi affords monomeric MesnacnacSbCl₂. The solid-state structures were determined using X-ray crystallography.     

Ruthenium(III) complexes with N-(acetyl)-N′-(5-R-salicylidene)hydrazines: Syntheses,structures and properties

The reactions of 1 mol equiv. each of [Ru(PPh₃)₃Cl₂] and N-(acetyl)-N′-(5-R-salicylidene)hydrazines (H₂ahsR, R = H, OCH₃, Cl, Br and NO₂) in alcoholic media afford simultaneously two types of complexes having the general formulae [Ru(HahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] and [Ru(ahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl]. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic, spectroscopic and electrochemical measurements. Molecular structures of [Ru(HahsH)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] and [Ru(ahsH)(PPh₃)₂Cl] have been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. In both species, the PPh₃ ligands are trans to each other. The bidentate HahsH⁻ coordinates to the metal ion via the O atom of the deprotonated amide and the imine–N atom in [Ru(HahsH)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂]. In HahsH⁻, the phenolic OH is involved in a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond with the uncoordinated amide N atom forming a seven-membered ring. In [Ru(ahsH)(PPh₃)₂Cl], the tridentate ahsH²⁻ binds to the metal ion via the deprotonated amide O, the imine N and the phenolate O atoms. In the electronic spectra, the green [Ru(HahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] and brown [Ru(ahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl] complexes display several absorptions in the ranges 385–283 and 457–269 nm, respectively. Both complexes are low-spin and display rhombic EPR spectra in frozen solutions. Both types of complexes are redox active and display a quasi-reversible ruthenium(III) to ruthenium(II) reduction which is sensitive to the polar effect of the substituent on the chelating ligand. The reduction potentials are in the ranges −0.21 to −0.12 and −0.42 to −0.21 V (versus Ag/AgCl) for [Ru(HahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl₂] and [Ru(ahsR)(PPh₃)₂Cl], respectively.     

Preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of low concentrations of malachite green and leuco-malachite green in water samples by high performance solid phase extraction using maghemite nanoparticles

A novel and sensitive extraction procedure using maghemite nanoparticles (γ-Fe₂O₃) modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), as an efficient solid phase, was developed for removal, preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of trace amounts of malachite green (MG) and leuco-malachite green (LMG). Combination of nanoparticle adsorption and easily magnetic separation was used to extraction and desorption of MG and LMG. The adsorption capacity was evaluated using both the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherm models. Maghemite nanoparticles were prepared by co-precipitation method and their surfaces were modified by SDS. The size and properties of the produced maghemite nanoparticles was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and BET analysis. MG and LMG became adsorbed at pH 3.0. LMG was oxidized to MG by adsorption on maghemite nanoparticles. The adsorbed MG was then desorbed and determined spectrophotometrically. The calibration graph was linear in the range 0.50-250.00 ng mL⁻¹ of MG and LMG with a correlation coefficient of 0.9991. The detection limit of the method for determination of MG was 0.28 ng mL⁻¹ and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for 10.00 and 50.00 ng mL⁻¹ of malachite green was 1.60% (n = 3) and 0.86% (n = 5), respectively. A preconcentration factor of 50 was achieved in this method. The Langmuir adsorption capacity (q_max) was found to be 227.3 mg g⁻¹ of the adsorbent. The method was applied to the determination of MG in fish farming water samples.     

Investigation of Fe-based oxyhydroxy-fluoride with hollandite-type structure

Well crystallized Fe-based oxyhydroxy-fluoride with the FeO(OH_0.2F_0.8)·0.2H₂O chemical composition has been prepared from hydrolysis of Fe trifluoride under supercritical CO₂ conditions. Investigation by Mössbauer spectroscopy and neutron diffraction show that this compound crystallize in the monoclinic symmetry (SG: I2/m, a = 10.447(7) Å, b = 3.028(2) Å, c = 10.445(4) Å, β = 90.00(3)°). Taking into account the Fe-O(F) bond distances, F⁻ anions are mainly located on the common vertices of Fe octahedra whereas OH⁻ groups occupy mainly the shared edges of the Fe octahedra. Two various highly distorted octahedral sites have been identified with Fe-O/F bond distances varying from 1.90 Å to 2.31 Å. One Fe site is more distorted than in FeO_0.8OH_1.2·0.2Cl akaganeite because of the random distribution of F⁻/OH⁻/O²⁻ in the vicinity of this Fe cation.     

On the chemical resolution of the 87Rb+ (s0)/87Sr+ (s1) isobaric interference: a kinetic search for an optimum reagent

Room-temperature reactions of the atomic cations Sr⁺ and Rb⁺ have been surveyed systematically with a variety of gases using an Inductively-Coupled Plasma/Selected-Ion Flow Tube (ICP/SIFT) tandem mass spectrometer. Rate coefficients and product distributions have been measured in He buffer gas at 0.35 Torr and 295 K for reactions of Sr⁺ and Rb⁺ with CH₃F, CH₃Cl, N₂O, CO₂, CS₂, SF₆, D₂O and NH₃. Rb⁺ (s⁰) is seen to be quite inert with these molecules and reacts either slowly by molecule addition or not at all, while Sr⁺ (s¹) is much more reactive with all these 8 molecules, especially with CH₃F, CH₃Cl, N₂O and SF₆. Sr⁺ reacts with CH₃F and SF₆ by F-atom transfer, with CH₃Cl by Cl-atom transfer and with N₂O by O-atom transfer, and the reaction rate coefficients are all quite high, k ≥ 1.4 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecules⁻¹ s⁻¹. The extreme differences in reactivity with CH₃F, SF₆, CH₃Cl and N₂O provide a chemical basis for the separation of isobaric interferences of ⁸⁷Rb⁺ and ⁸⁷Sr⁺ often encountered in ICP-MS. Among these four molecules, SF₆ exhibits the largest difference in reactivity, almost a factor of 10⁴, and so is identified as the kinetically recommended reagent for the chemical resolution of the isobaric interference of ⁸⁷Rb⁺ and ⁸⁷Sr⁺.     

The structure of mimetite,arsenian pyromorphite and hedyphane – A Raman spectroscopic study

The minerals mimetite Pb₅(AsO₄)₃Cl, arsenian pyromorphite Pb₅(PO₄,AsO₄)₃Cl and hedyphane Pb₃Ca₂(AsO₄)₃Cl have been studied by Raman spectroscopy complimented with infrared spectroscopy. Mimetite is characterised by a band at 812–3 cm⁻¹ attributed to the A_g mode. For the arsenian pyromorphite this band is observed at 818 cm⁻¹ and for hedyphane at 819 cm⁻¹. For mimetite and hedyphane bands at 788 and 765 cm⁻¹ are attributed to A_u and E_1u vibrational modes and are both Raman and infrared active. For the arsenian pyromorphite, Raman bands at 917–1014 cm⁻¹ are attributed to phosphate stretching vibrations. Raman spectroscopy clearly identifies bands attributable to isomorphous substitution of arsenate by phosphate. The observation of low intensity bands in the 3200–3550 cm⁻¹ region are assigned to adsorbed water and OH units, thus indicating some replacement of chloride ions with hydroxyl ions.     

Benefits of near-infrared spectroscopy for characterization of selected organo-montmorillonites

The potential of near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in characterization of organically modified clay minerals is introduced. Selected organo-clays, possibly perspective fillers in clay polymer nanocomposites, were prepared from Na-montmorillonite and different surfactants containing octylammonium chain(s), hexadecylammonium chain(s) or a benzene ring with or without a reactive double bond. Based on the stretching (ν) and bending (δ) vibrations observed in the middle IR (MIR) region, the first overtone (2νXH) and combination (ν + δ)XH modes of XH groups (X = O, C, N) are identified. The effect of larger alkylammonium cations on the vibrations of Si-O and OH bonds in montmorillonite layers is observed. The changes in the intensity of the (ν + δ)H₂O band near 5250 cm⁻¹ allows for comparison of the amount of water adsorbed on the montmorillonite surface. The water content decreases with the size of the organic cation reflecting increasing hydrophobicity of the montmorillonite surface. The NIR region shows the 2νCH₃ and 2νCH₂ bands in the 5900-5500 cm⁻¹ region, an upward shift is observed for the complex band due to 2νCH(Ar) of aromatic benzene ring. The NIR spectra are extremely useful in identification of NH₂⁺, NH⁺ and vinyl groups, which are difficult to recognize in the MIR spectra of organo-clays due to overlapping with other absorption bands. The intense bands corresponding to overtones and combination vibrations of NH₃⁺ and NH₂⁺ groups are found in the 6600-6050 cm⁻¹ and 5000-4600 cm⁻¹ regions, the (ν + δ)NH⁺ is unambiguously identified near 4750 cm⁻¹. The characteristic band assigned to 2νCH₂ in H₂CC is detected near 6130 cm⁻¹.     

Complexation of tris(pentafluorophenyl)silanes with neutral Lewis bases

A detailed analysis of monodentate and bidentate complexation of tris(pentafluorophenyl)silyl (TPFS) derivatives with neutral Lewis bases was performed. The NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis (11 structures) were the key methods to characterize tetra- or pentacoordinate silicon compounds, whereas the peculiarities of crystal packing were analyzed by means of DFT calculations. The interaction of TPFS-X (X = F, Cl, OTf) with strong Lewis bases (HMPA, N-methylpyrrolidinone) may afford three different species: neutral pentacoordinate TPFS(X)-L, cationic tetracoordinate TPFS-L⁺ X⁻, and cationic pentacoordinate TPFS-(L)⁺₂X⁻, representatives of each type were characterized by X-ray diffraction. A variety of complexes with bidentate complexation, featuring the trigonal bipyramidal geometry with apical C₆F₅-group was prepared and structurally characterized. The extent of Si-C_apical bond elongation depends on the donating ability of the coordinating ligand, with the longest Si-C bond of 1.981(1) Å observed for six-membered complex of TPFS-ether of N-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)pyrrolidine.     

Vibrational spectroscopic properties of botallackite-structure basic copper halides

Mid-infrared (4000-400 cm⁻¹) absorption and Raman (4000-95 cm⁻¹) spectra of the series of geometrically frustrated materials, botallackite-structure basic copper halides, α-Cu₂(OH)₃Cl and α-Cu₂(OH)₃Br polycrystalline samples were first, to the best of our knowledge, measured, respectively, to study the corresponding relationship between their vibrational spectral properties and crystal microstructures. Through the comparative analysis to the four spectra, the authors have definitely assigned or tentatively suggested the vibrational modes of hydroxyl groups in the trimeric hydrogen bond environment (OH)₃ Cl/Br, and atomic units O-Cu-O, Cu-O and Cl/Br-Cu-Cl/Br, etc. These results can be propitious to the low temperature spectral property of α-Cu₂(OH)₃Cl and α-Cu₂(OH)₃Br which must help to understand the underlying physics of their exotic geometric frustration phenomena at low temperatures.     

Adsorption of arsenic(III) into modified lamellar Na-magadiite in aqueous medium—Thermodynamic of adsorption process

Synthetic Na-magadiite sample was used for organofunctionalization process with N-propyldiethylenetrimethoxysilane and bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulfide, after expanding the interlayer distance with polar organic solvents such as dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The resulted materials were submitted to process of adsorption with arsenic solution at pH 2.0 and 298±1 K. The adsorption isotherms were adjusted using a modified Langmuir equation with regression nonlinear; the net thermal effects obtained from calorimetric titration measurements were adjusted to a modified Langmuir equation. The adsorption process was exothermic (Δ_intH=−4.15-5.98 kJ mol⁻¹) accompanied by increase in entropy (Δ_intS=41.32-62.20 J k⁻¹ mol⁻¹) and Gibbs energy (Δ_intG=−22.44−24.56 kJ mol⁻¹). The favorable values corroborate with the arsenic (III)/basic reactive centers interaction at the solid-liquid interface in the spontaneous process.     

Sorption characteristics and separation of tellurium ions from aqueous solutions using nano-TiO2

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO₂) were employed for the sorption of Te(IV) ions from aqueous solution. A detailed study of the process was performed by varying the sorption time, pH, and temperature. The sorption was found to be fast, equilibrium was reached within 8 min. When the concentration of Te(IV) was below 40 mg L⁻¹, at least 97% of tellurium was adsorbed by nano-TiO₂ in the pH range of 1-2 and 8-9. The sorbed Te(IV) ions were desorbed with 2.0 mL of 0.5 mol L⁻¹ NaOH. The sorption data could be well interpreted by the Langmuir model with the maximum adsorption capacity of 32.75 mg g⁻¹ (20 ± 0.1 °C) of Te(IV) on nano-TiO₂. The kinetics and thermodynamics of the sorption of Te(IV) onto nano-TiO₂ were also studied. The kinetic experimental data properly correlated with the second-order kinetic model (k₂ = 0.0368 g mg⁻¹ min⁻¹, 293 K). The overall rate process appeared to be influenced by both boundary layer diffusion and intra-particle diffusion. The mean energy of adsorption was calculated to be 17.41 kJ mol⁻¹ from the Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) adsorption isotherm at room temperature. Moreover, the thermodynamic parameters for the sorption were estimated, and the ΔH⁰ and ΔG⁰ values indicated the exothermic and spontaneous nature of the sorption process, respectively. Finally, Nano-TiO₂ as sorbent was successfully applied to the separation of Te(IV) from the environmental samples with satisfactory results (recoveries >95%, relative standard deviations was 2.0%).     

Cesium fluorohydrogenate, Cs(FH)2.3F

Cs(FH)_2.3F is a liquid salt exhibiting a low viscosity of 20.1 cP and a high conductivity of 86.3 mS cm⁻¹ at 25 °C, in spite of the relatively high melting point (16.9 °C). The high density of 2.82 g cm⁻³ at the liquid state is due to the heavy atomic weight and small size of cesium atom compared to the organic cations of general ionic liquids. The infrared spectroscopy indicates that this salt contains (FH)₂F⁻ as a main anionic species. The other anionic species such as (FH)₃F⁻ found in the cases of other M⁺(HF)_2.3F (M = a univalent organic cation) ionic liquid salts is not detected, suggesting its small abundance as well as the presence of neutral HF in the form of molecular and/or oligomers. The result of ¹H NMR also suggests that the anions exchange HF between them. These observations coincide with the experimental result that Cs(FH)_2.3F acts as an acid against general ionic liquid fluorohydrogenates such as EMIm(FH)_2.3F (EMIm = 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium) to lose HF and give Cs(FH)₂F precipitate.     

Stabilization of the trivalent oxidation state of copper by tridentate imine–oxime–amine ligands

Two tridentate imine–oxime–amine ligands have been synthesized and their corresponding copper(II) complexes have been isolated. These copper(II) complexes are readily oxidized both chemically and electrochemically to give relatively stable copper(III) complexes. In the pH range 1.5–3.0 the electron transfer process is electrochemically reversible with ΔE_p = 60 mV and i_pa/i_pc ∼ 1. Plots of E_1/2 versus pH are linear with a slope = −60 indicating the involvement of one proton in the electron transfer process. Aqueous solutions of copper(III) complexes have high molar absorption at λ_max with ε > 10⁴ M⁻¹ cm⁻¹. Solid samples of the complexes are diamagnetic consistent with a d⁸ square planar geometry. It seems that only imine–oxime nitrogens are coordinated to copper(II) with the NH₂ group being free as indicated by i.r. spectra. Substitution of a –CH₃ group on the carbon atom adjacent to the oxime group by the more electron donating group –CH(CH₃)₂ lowers electrode potential by more than 90 mV. This is consistent with an earlier observation that electron-donating substituents on the carbon atom adjacent to the oxime group lower the potential of Cu^III/Cu^II couples and stabilize the higher oxidation state.     

Chemical structure-stereospecificity relationship of internal donor in heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalyst for propylene polymerization by DFT and MM calculations

The effect of chemical structure of 2,2′-disubstituted 1,3-dimethoxypropane (so-called 1,3-diether) on the performance of Ziegler-Natta (ZN) catalyst was investigated by using density functional theory and molecular mechanics. Calculation of the energy barrier during insertion of propylene reveals that the isospecific active site created on the (1 0 0) surface of MgCl₂ is more active than the aspecific active site created on the (1 1 0) surface of MgCl₂ for propylene polymerization. When the adsorption energies of various 1,3-diethers are calculated and analyzed in terms of isotacticity, it is found that the isotacticity of polypropylene increases as 1,3-diether is adsorbed more preferentially on the (1 1 0) surface. Since analysis of energetics for insertion of propylene into the active site created on the (1 1 0) surface with 1,3-diether coordinated to Mg atom in the vicinity of the active site reveals that the coordination of 1,3-diether does not transform the aspecific active site on the (1 1 0) surface into isospecific one, it is concluded that the primary function of 1,3-diether is to prevent the formation of aspecific site on the (1 1 0) surface, without significant decrease in the number of the isospecific active site created on the (1 0 0) surface. A systematic analysis of various model compounds for 1,3-diether suggests that the substitution of highly branched hydrocarbon at the C₂ position of 1,3-diether results in better performance of ZN catalyst.