Distinguishing homogeneous from heterogeneous catalysis in electrode-driven water oxidation with molecular iridium complexes

Molecular water-oxidation catalysts can deactivate by side reactions or decompose to secondary materials over time due to the harsh, oxidizing conditions required to drive oxygen evolution. Distinguishing electrode surface-bound heterogeneous catalysts (such as iridium oxide) from homogeneous molecular catalysts is often difficult. Using an electrochemical quartz crystal nanobalance (EQCN), we report a method for probing electrodeposition of metal oxide materials from molecular precursors. Using the previously reported [Cp*Ir(H(2)O)(3)](2+) complex, we monitor deposition of a heterogeneous water oxidation catalyst by measuring the electrode mass in real time with piezoelectric gravimetry. Conversely, we do not observe deposition for homogeneous catalysts, such as the water-soluble complex Cp*Ir(pyr-CMe(2)O)X reported in this work. Rotating ring-disk electrode electrochemistry and Clark-type electrode studies show that this complex is a catalyst for water oxidation with oxygen produced as the product. For the heterogeneous, surface-attached material generated from [Cp*Ir(H(2)O)(3)](2+), we can estimate the percentage of electroactive metal centers in the surface layer. We monitor electrode composition dynamically during catalytic turnover, providing new information on catalytic performance. Together, these data suggest that EQCN can directly probe the homogeneity of molecular water-oxidation catalysts over short times.     

新型的承载双金属氰化物络合催化剂

用双金属氰化物(DMC)络合催化剂可制得相对分子质量高、相对分子质量分布窄和不饱和度低的聚醚多元醇。为提高DMC催化剂的利用率,降低催化剂和聚醚的生产成本,国外开发了承载的DMC催化剂。它不仅可简化聚醚的后处理工艺,而且使聚醚的连续化大规模生产得以实现,因此代表了DMC催化剂的一个重要发展方向。     

Controlled synthesis of functionalized polymers by transition‐metal‐mediated living radical polymerization

This paper discusses recent progress in transition‐metal‐catalyzed living radical polymerizations, partly focusing on the search of metal complex catalysts that play a critical role in controlling polymer molecular weights, then‐distributions, and architectures. Following a brief overview of the design of initiating systems (initiators and metal catalysts), half‐metallocene‐type complex catalysts are presented that induce living radical polymerizations of methacrylates, acrylates, and styrene to give markedly narrow molecular weight distributions and controlled molecular weights. Some of these halfmetallocenes also work in water where suspension living radical polymerization is feasible.     

Dual-Atomic-Site Catalysts for Molecular Oxygen Activation in Heterogeneous Thermo-/Electro-catalysis

Efficient molecular oxygen activation (MOA) is the key to environmentally friendly catalytic oxidation reactions. In the last decade, single-atomic-site catalysts (SASCs) with nearly 100 % atomic utilization and unique electronic structure have been widely investigated for MOA. However, the single active site makes the activation effect unsatisfactory and difficult to deal with complex catalytic reactions. Recently, dual-atomic-site catalysts (DASCs) have provided a new idea for the effective activation of molecular oxygen (O₂) due to more diverse active sites and synergetic interactions among adjacent atoms. In this review, we systematically summarized the recent research progress of DASCs for MOA in heterogeneous thermo- and electrocatalysis. Finally, we look forward to the challenges and application prospects in the construction of DASCs for MOA.     

MoO3-LaHY催化剂的固相反应制备及其加氢脱硫性能研究

在空气气氛中由钼酸铵和LaHY分子筛固相反应制备了MoO₃-LaHY催化剂,用XRD和NH₃-TPD对其进行了表征,并以二苯并噻吩/正癸烷溶液为模型反应物（二苯并噻吩的质量分数为0.6%）,评价了MoO₃-LaHY的加氢脱硫催化性能。结果表明,在520℃下进行固相反应制备催化剂时,4.36%的Mo物种可借助固相反应进入到分子筛的体相形成单相复合体nMoO_{x·LaHY,剩余的Mo物种仍以MoO3的形式分散在分子筛外表面。由于单相复合体的形成,催化剂的晶胞参数增大,酸量有所下降。硫化处理后得到的硫化态MoO3-LaHY催化剂在310℃、4.0MPa、反应空速为20h^-1的条件下进行加氢脱硫时,二苯并噻吩转化率达到了86.74％。随固相反应温度的升高,所制备的催化剂中Mo物种进入LaHY体相中的量有所增大,但其硫化态催化剂的二苯并噻吩加氢脱硫活性的变化幅度并不大。}     

A Bio‐inspired Cu4O4 Cubane: Effective Molecular Catalysts for Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation in Aqueous Solution

Inspired by the cubic Mn₄CaO₅ cluster of natural oxygen‐evolving complex in Photosystem II, tetrametallic molecular water oxidation catalysts, especially M₄O₄ cubane‐like clusters (M=transition metals), have aroused great interest in developing highly active and robust catalysts for water oxidation. Among these M₄O₄ clusters, however, copper‐based molecular catalysts are poorly understood. Now, bio‐inspired Cu₄O₄ cubanes are presented as effective molecular catalysts for electrocatalytic water oxidation in aqueous solution (pH 12). The exceptional catalytic activity is manifested with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 267 s^?1 for [(L_Gly‐Cu)₄] at 1.70 V and 105 s^?1 for [(L_Glu‐Cu)₄] at 1.56 V. Electrochemical and spectroscopic study revealed a successive two‐electron transfer process in the Cu₄O₄ cubanes to form high‐valent Cu^III and Cu^IIIO^. intermediates during the catalysis.     

Polymer-bound bulky-phosphite modified rhodium hydroformylation catalysts

Attachment of phosphites to styrene copolymers is described which are used as rhodium hydroformylation catalysts. The influence of the chain loading on the activity and complex formation of three types of copolymer-bound rhodium hydroformylation catalysts in comparison with their low molecular weight analogues has been studied. The catalytic activity of the polystyrene-bound system with the most bulky phosphite, the first system studied, is identical to that of the low molecular weight analogue. The catalysts show a high activity towards the hydroformylation of the otherwise unreactive cyclooctene. It was found that only one phosphite is coordinated to the rhodium complex in its active form. An equilibrium between this complex and an inactive complex without phosphite ligands prohibits its use in continuous flow reactors. Secondly, as polymer support a perfectly random copolymer of styrene and less bulky 3,3′,5,5′-tetra-tert-butylbiphenyl-2,2′-diyl p-vinylphenylphosphite was used. The chain loading α of this copolymer with phosphite ligands has a large influence on the complex formation of the catalyst. With high chain loadings moderately active bis-phosphite catalysts are formed. Low chain loadings give active, easily accessible, monophosphite complexes. The active species in the hydroformylation of sterically hindered alkenes is a mono-phosphite rhodium complex. The activity of the copolymer-bound catalyst towards the hydroformylation of cyclooctene is found to be as high as the activity of its low molecular weight analogue. For styrene, this polymer catalyst yields a slower catalyst than the low-molecular weight analogue. The third part demonstrates that silica-grafted polymer-bound phosphite modified rhodium complexes can be used in continuous flow reactors. The hydroformylation of styrene was carried out at moderate pressure (pCO/H₂ = 3 MPa) and temperature (T = 100°C), yielding constant conversions over a period of at least ten days. These positive results were obtained in benzene as a solvent and for a ligand to rhodium ratio of only four.     

Norbornene/n‐Butyl methacrylate copolymerization over α‐Diimine nickel and palladium catalysts supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The covalently immobilized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) supported three‐dimensional geometry α‐diimine nickel, palladium catalysts are prepared by corresponding α‐diimine nickel, palladium complexes and activated MWNTs. The molecular structures of the catalysts have been confirmed by X‐ray single‐crystal analyses, NMR and XPS, as well as elemental analysis. Compared with nickel, palladium catalysts without modification and physical mixing of nickel, palladium catalysts with MWNTs, the MWNTs supported nickel, palladium catalysts show improved activity and productivity in norbornene homopolymerization and copolymerization with polar monomer. The morphology of the resulting polymers obtained from MWNTs‐supported nickel(II) complex reveals that the MWNTs are dispersed uniformly in polymer and wrapped by polymers to squeeze out of spherical particles, leading to the enhanced processability and mechanical properties. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 3213–3220     

Selective dimerization,oligomerization, homopolymerization and copolymerization of olefins with complex organometallic catalysts

Review embarrasses the problems of low molecular weight olefins (ethylene and propylene) selective oligomerization to butene-1, hexene-1, octene-1, 4-methylpentene-1; selective polymerization of olefins to obtain polymers with a given molecular mass, molecular mass distribution, branching (for the polyethylene), chain structure [atactic, iso-, syndio-, gemiisotactic, stereoblock type and containing terminal vinyl and vinylidene bonds (for polypropylene)]; “live” homo-and copolymerization of olefins, and alternating copolymerization of olefins in the presence of complex organometallic catalysts.     

A Water-Soluble Sodium Pectate Complex with Copper as an Electrochemical Catalyst for Carbon Dioxide Reduction

A selective noble-metal-free molecular catalyst has emerged as a fruitful approach in the quest for designing efficient and stable catalytic materials for CO₂ reduction. In this work, we report that a sodium pectate complex of copper (PG-NaCu) proved to be highly active in the electrocatalytic conversion of CO₂ to CH₄ in water. Stability and selectivity of conversion of CO₂ to CH₄ as a product at a glassy carbon electrode were discovered. The copper complex PG-NaCu was synthesized and characterized by physicochemical methods. The electrochemical CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) proceeds at −1.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl at ~10 mA/cm² current densities in the presence of the catalyst. The current density decreases by less than 20% within 12 h of electrolysis (the main decrease occurs in the first 3 h of electrolysis in the presence of CO₂). This copper pectate complex (PG-NaCu) combines the advantages of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysts, the stability of heterogeneous solid materials and the performance (high activity and selectivity) of molecular catalysts.     

MgCl_2负载双金属复合催化剂制备宽分子量分布聚乙烯

聚乙烯的分子量和分子量分布对其熔体的流变性能和产品的力学性能有显著影响．分子量分布的变化,尤其是分子量分布末端部位的变化,都会对材料的注塑行为产生大的影响［１］．为了控制Ｚｉｅｇｌｅｒ催化剂制备的聚乙烯分子量分布而改善聚合工艺的报道很多［２～４］,工业生产中可利用多步聚合工艺来获得宽分子量分布的聚乙烯［５,６］,但这种方法工艺复杂,成本高．美国ＵＣＣ公司利用复合的ＴｉＶ和ＺｒＶ催化剂在气相法Ｕｎｉｐｏｌ工艺装置上首次成功的合成出了双峰高分子量聚乙烯产品［７,８］,由于采用Ｕｎｉｐｏｌ生产工艺…     

On the use of surface-confined molecular catalysts in fuel cell development

Fuel cells have the potential to provide sustainable clean energy but are hampered by the reliance on Pt as an electrocatalyst for half-cell reactions. Bio-inspired molecular catalysts, composed of Earth-abundant elements, have shown promise as alternative electrocatalysts for fuel oxidation and oxygen reduction reactions. This article provides a concise overview of recent progress in this area with particular focus on (i) electrodes modified with molecular catalysts for fuel oxidation and O₂ reduction and (ii) fuel cells incorporating surface-confined molecular catalysts for both anodic and cathodic reactions. Finally, the prospect and challenges of using molecular catalysts in fuel cell assemblies are discussed.     

Nickel‐ and palladium‐catalyzed olefin polymerization under high pressures

The polymerization of 1‐hexene under high pressures (100–750 MPa) was investigated with nickel–α‐diimine complex/methylaluminoxane and palladium–α‐diimine complex/methylaluminoxane as catalyst systems. The catalytic activity of both the nickel and palladium complexes monotonously increased as pressure rose and became two to four times higher than that observed at atmospheric pressure. Palladium catalysts gave poly(1‐hexene)s with higher molecular weights under high pressure, whereas nickel‐catalyzed high‐pressure polymerizations gave polymers with higher molecular weights only at rather low monomer concentrations. The living‐like character in the palladium‐catalyzed polymerizations was somewhat enhanced under higher pressures, whereas the nickel‐catalyzed polymerizations under high pressures were not living. More branches were found in the polymers produced by nickel catalysts at higher pressures. The chain‐transfer reaction seemed to be accelerated by the high pressure in the nickel‐catalyzed reactions, although this was not apparent in the palladium‐catalyzed reactions. Dimers formed and were accompanied by high molecular weight polymers when nickel catalysts were used under high pressures and at high monomer concentrations. The possibility that very congested five‐coordinated species act as key intermediates for the dimerization is discussed. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 293–302, 2003     

Direct Immobilization of Phosphine-Rhodium Complex on MCM-41 for Propene Hydroformylation

IntroductionHeterogenization of HRh( CO) ( PPh3 ) 3 ( PPh3 :triphenylphosphine) for hydroformylation andselective hydrogenation has received considerableattention in the past several decades from bothacademic and industrial interests[1] . Besides themilestone preparation of water- soluble TPPTS andthe corresponding rhodium- phosphine complexessuch as HRh( CO) ( TPPTS) 3 ( 1 ) [2 ,3 ] ,supportedliquid- phase catalysts ( SLPC) [4— 6] and supportedaqueous- phase catalysts ( SAPC) [7]…     

Effect of the synthetic method and support porosity on the structure and performance of silica‐supported CuBr/pyridylmethanimine atom transfer radical polymerization catalysts. II. Polymerization of methyl methacrylate

A systematic study of the effect of the synthesis method and catalyst structure on the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) performance of copper(I) bromide/pyridylmethanimine complexes supported on silica is described. Four different synthetic routes, including multistep‐grafting (M1), two‐step‐grafting (M2), one‐pot (M3), and preassembled‐complex (M4) methods, have been evaluated on three different silica supports (mesoporous SBA15 with 48‐ and 100‐Å pores and nonporous Cab‐O‐Sil EH5). The resulting solids have been used for ATRP of methyl methacrylate. The catalysts allow for moderate to poor control of the polymerization, with polydispersity indices (PDIs) ranging from 1.46 to greater than 2. The materials made with the preassembled‐complex (M4) and one‐pot (M3) approaches are generally more effective than those prepared with a grafting method (M1 and M2) on porous silica, whereas all the methods provide similarly performing catalysts on the nonporous support. Nonporous Cab‐O‐Sil EH5 is the most effective support because of its small particle size, lack of porosity, and relative compatibility in the reaction media. All the catalysts leach copper into solutions in small amounts. In addition, the catalysts can be effectively recycled, with improved controlled character in recycle runs (PDI ～ 1.2). Control experiments have shown that this improved performance of the used catalysts is likely due to the presence of a soluble Cu(II) complex in the materials that effectively deactivates the growing polymer chain, leading to narrow PDIs and controlled molecular weights. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1384–1399, 2004     

Coordination polymerization with the novel η-C20H17Ti(OPr)3 complex

Modified corannulene based transition metal complexes of titanium as a novel group of metallocene catalysts were synthesized and investigated in coordination polymerization reactions as catalysts in the syndiospecific bulk polymerization of styrene. In comparison to the zirconium complex exo-(η⁵-C₂₀H₁₇)(η⁵-C₅H₅)ZrCl₂, the titanium complex η⁵-C₂₀H₁₇Ti(OⁱPr)₃ shows a significantly increased polymerization activity, a considerably improved stereoregularity of the syndiotactic polymer chain, indicated by the increased melting temperature of 269 °C, as well as a higher weight average molecular weight and a narrower molecular weight distribution.     

Single-center vs. multi-center post-metallocene catalysts for propylene polymerization

The structural characteristics of polypropylene samples prepared with two post-metallocene catalysts based on complexes bis-{M-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-salicylidene)-4-[bis-(5-methyl-2-furyl)methyl]aniline}titanium dichloride and [(4R,5R)-2,2-dimethyl-α,α,α′,α′-tetra(pentafluorophenyl)-1,3-dioxalan-4,4-dimethanol)titanium dichloride are investigated by GPC, ¹³C NMR, IR, DSC, and XRD methods. A combination of the first complex and MAO forms a single-center catalyst which polymerizes propylene to a nearly perfectly atactic polymer. A combination of the second complex and MAO forms a multi-center catalyst system producing polymer mixtures with broad molecular weight distributions containing five to six Flory components with different average molecular weights. Relative contents of the Flory components strongly depend on the type of solvent in the polymerization reactions. Some of the active centers produce high molecular weight, highly isotactic crystalline material with the melting point over 154 °C. The nature of steric errors in these polymer fractions (determined by ¹³C NMR) can be explained by a variant of stereocontrol similar to that exerted by metallocene catalysts of the C₁ symmetry.     

Titanium (IV) chloride complexes with salen ligands supported on magnesium carrier: Synthesis and use in ethylene polymerization

The magnesium support with the formula MgCl₂(THF)_0.32(Et₂AlCl)_0.36 was used for immobilization of salen complexes of titanium [Ti(salen)Cl₂, Ti(salen(OMe)₂)Cl₂]. The effects of the catalyst composition (i.e. type of titanium complex and type of activator), polymerization temperature, polymerization time, and the effect of comonomer (1‐octene) on the activity of the obtained supported catalysts, on the polymer characteristics (molecular weight, molecular weight distribution, melting point), and on the polymer morphology were studied. The findings were compared to those obtained for corresponding unsupported systems. Catalysts immobilization results in considerable changes in catalysts activity and in properties of resultant polymers. The studied supported catalysts are highly active in ethylene polymerization, their activity increases with increasing temperature and lasts at least 2 hours. Their copolymerizing ability towards 1‐octene is rather low. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 6693–6703, 2009     

Solid-Phase Immobilization of a New Epoxidation Catalyst

The heterogenization of a titanium(IV ) silsesquioxane complex in an MCM-41 molecular sieve , by tailoring the polarity of MCM-41, results in self-assembled materials (see the space-filling model on the right) that are active, truly heterogeneous, and recyclable catalysts for liquid-phase alkene epoxidation.     

Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate with Samarocene Complex Supported on Mesoporous Silica

Synthesis of polymers with controlled molecular weight and narrow polydispersity is of both fundamental interest and practical importance. In recent years, high molecular weight poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) having an unusually narrow polydispersity has been synthesized by using the unique initiating property of (C5Me5)2LnⅢR (R=H, Me, Ln=Sm, Yb) complexes1,2. Herein we report the results of the first example of the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) with samarocene complex …