Efficiency and evolution of enzyme catalysis.

A new function derived from kinetic data, the efficiency function, can be used to quantify the efficiency of a catalyst. For freely diffusing species the maximum efficiency is unity. The enzyme triose phosphate isomerase has an efficiency of 0.6 and is thus almost a perfect catalyst. The efficiency of the acetate ion as catalyst for the same reaction is 2.5 × 10^?11. This increase in catalytic efficiency is discussed in terms of three types of evolutionary improvement: the uniform binding of the substrate to the enzyme, changes in the internal thermodynamics of the bound states, and more effective catalysis of elementary steps. These concepts are illustrated for triose phosphate isomerase.     

Unexpected Direct Hydride Transfer Mechanism for the Hydrogenation of Ethyl Acetate to Ethanol Catalyzed by SNS Pincer Ruthenium Complexes

The hydrogenation of ethyl acetate to ethanol catalyzed by SNS pincer ruthenium complexes was computationally investigated by using DFT. Different from a previously proposed mechanism with fac‐[(SNS)Ru(PPh₃)(H)₂] ( 5′ ) as the catalyst, an unexpected direct hydride transfer mechanism with a mer‐SNS ruthenium complex as the catalyst, and two cascade catalytic cycles for hydrogenations of ethyl acetate to aldehyde and aldehyde to ethanol, is proposed base on our calculations. The new mechanism features ethanol‐assisted proton transfer for H₂ cleavage, direct hydride transfer from ruthenium to the carbonyl carbon, and C?OEt bond cleavage. Calculation results indicate that the rate‐determining step in the whole catalytic reaction is the transfer of a hydride from ruthenium to the carbonyl carbon of ethyl acetate, with a total free energy barrier of only 26.9 kcal mol^?1, which is consistent with experimental observations and significantly lower than the relative free energy of an intermediate in a previously postulated mechanism with 5′ as the catalyst.     

Generation and Stabilization of a Dinickel Catalyst in a Metal-Organic Framework for Selective Hydrogenation Reactions

Although many monometallic active sites have been installed in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for catalytic reactions, there are no effective strategies to generate bimetallic catalysts in MOFs. Here we report the synthesis of a robust, efficient, and reusable MOF catalyst, MOF-NiH, by adaptively generating and stabilizing dinickel active sites using the bipyridine groups in MOF-253 with the formula of Al(OH)(2,2′-bipyridine-5,5′-dicarboxylate) for Z-selective semihydrogenation of alkynes and selective hydrogenation of C=C bonds in α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones. Spectroscopic studies established the dinickel complex (bpy⋅⁻)Ni^II(μ₂-H)₂Ni^II(bpy⋅⁻) as the active catalyst. MOF-NiH efficiently catalyzed selective hydrogenation reactions with turnover numbers of up to 192 and could be used in five cycles of hydrogenation reactions without catalyst leaching or significant decrease of catalytic activities. The present work uncovers a synthetic strategy toward solution-inaccessible Earth-abundant bimetallic MOF catalysts for sustainable catalysis.     

Well-defined PEPPSI-themed palladium–NHC complexes: synthesis,and catalytic application in the direct arylation of heteroarenes

In this study, a series of benzimidazolium salts were synthesized as unsymmetrical N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors. Benzimidazolium salts were used for synthesis of the PEPPSI (pyridine enhanced precatalyst preparation stabilization and initiation)-themed, six new Pd-complexes with the general formula [PdX₂(NHC)(pyridine)]. The structures of all compounds were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques such as ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and FT-IR. The more detailed structural characterization of four of the complexes was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. The catalytic activities of all Pd-complexes were evaluated in the direct arylation of the 2-acetylfuran and 2-acetylthiophene with aryl bromides in the presence of 1 mol% catalyst loading.     

α‐ZrP/Uracil/Cu2+ nanoparticles as an efficient catalyst in the Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman reaction

A facile synthesis of uracil‐Cu²⁺ nanoparticles immobilized on alpha‐zirconium hydrogen phosphate (α‐ZrP), abbreviated as α‐ZrP/Uracil/Cu²⁺, was presented. This compound was synthesized by the thermal method and used as a reusable catalyst for the Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman reaction without any additives. First, (3‐ iodopropyl) trimethoxysilane as a linker is reacted with α‐ZrP support to give the α‐ZrP/IPTMOS. Addition of uracil and then the addition of copper (II) acetate to α‐ZrP/IPTMOS results in the production of selected catalyst. The Morita‐Baylis‐Hillman reaction catalyzed by α‐ZrP/Uracil/Cu^{2 +} demonstrated high product yield, short reaction time and a straightforward work‐up. The catalyst with enough outside surface was easily recovered using centrifugation and reused five times without a significant reduction in its activity.     

Dynamic Kinetic Resolution of 2-(Quinolin-8-yl)Benzaldehydes: Atroposelective Iridium-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenative Allylation

An atroposelective Ir-catalyzed dynamic kinetic resolution (DKR) of 2-(quinolin-8-yl)benzaldehydes/1-naphthaldehydes by transfer hydrogenative coupling of allyl acetate is disclosed. The allylation reaction takes place with simultaneous installation of central and axial chirality, reaching high diastereoselectivities and excellent enantiomeric excesses when ortho-cyclometalated iridium-DM-BINAP is used as the catalyst. The racemization of the substrates occurs through a designed transient Lewis acid-base interaction between the quinoline nitrogen atom and the aldehyde carbonyl group.     

Preparation, Characterization and Catalytic Performance of La-SO4/SBA-15 in Esterification of Acetic Acid with n-Butanol

La-SO42-/SBA-15 was synthesized with various amounts of lanthanum via incipient-wetness impregnation. Characterization was done by X-ray diffraction（XRD）, transmission electron micrographs（TEM）, nitrogen adsorption, FTIR spectroscopic analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and the total amount of acidity of catalyst was estimated by TPD of NH3. The results indicate that lanthanum has been incorporated into SBA-15 molecular sieve. The prepared materials（La-SO42-/SBA-15） keep the highly ordered mesoporous two-dimensional hexagonal structure and do not change the mesoporous channel structure of the support SBA-15. The catalyst showed best catalytic activity in the synthesis of n-butyl acetate. The optimum conditions of the esterification by orthogonal experiments were studied： the molar ratio of n-butanol to acetic acid 1：1.2, the amount of catalyst 7.5%, reaction time 80 min. The yield of n-butyl acetate could reach 93.2% under the optimum conditions. The catalyst was recyclable, cost effective and environmental friendly.     

Thermal analysis study of imidazolinium and some benzimid azolium salts by TG

The imidazolinium and benzimidazolium bromide salts with pentafluor substituents on N atom were synthesized. The structures of imidazolinium and benzimidazolium bromide salts obtained were conformed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, ¹⁹F NMR and elemental analysis. It was found that pyrolytic decomposition occurs with melting in salts. The imidazolinium and benzimidazolium bromide salts were studied by TG-DTG and DTA from ambient temperature to 1000°C in nitrogen atmosphere. The decomposition occurred mainly in one stage and the values of activation energy E, frequency factor A, reaction order n, enthalpy change ΔH ^#, entropy change ΔS ^# and Gibbs free energy ΔG ^#, of the thermal decomposition were calculated by means of Coats-Redfern (CR), MacCallum-Tanner (MC) and van Krevelen (vK) methods. The activation energy value obtained by CR and MC methods were in good agreement with each other while those obtained by vK were found to be 10–12 kJ mol⁻¹ larger.     

Model studies and a new melt polycondensation route to poly-bisphenol a–iso/terephthalate (polyarylate)

Alternate syntheses of polyarylate from dimethyl iso/terephthalate (DMI/DMT) and bisphenol-A (BPA) or bisphenol-A diacetate (BPAOAc) were investigated using a variety of catalysts. The model exchange of DMT with 4-t-butylphenol with loss of methanol proceeded moderately rapidly at rather low temperature (170°C) to produce to mono- and di-t-butylphenyl terephthalates. Dibutyltin oxide is the preferred catalyst. Alkali metal phenoxides are almost as effective but were less soluble. The model reaction of DMT with 4-tert-butylphenyl acetate involving loss of methyl acetate gave comparable results using dibutyltin oxide as catalyst. Based on these model results, polycondensations of DMI/DMT with BPAOAc under optimal conditions, gave polyarylate having an inherent viscosity 0.34 dL g^?1 in quantitative yield and light brown color. Polycondensation with BPA was unsatisfactory in terms of yield, molecular weight, and color.     

Low-temperature polymerization of lactams by using as catalyst the salt derived from NaAlEt4 and monomer and with several compounds as initiator

Low-temperature polymerization of α-pyrrolidone, α-piperidone, and ?-caprolactam was examined by using the salts derived from NaAlEt₄ and monomer, sodium lactamates, or the salt derived from AlEt₃ and monomer as catalyst and with N-acetyl lactams, ethyl acetate, or lactones as initiator. Sodium lactamate catalyst gave unsatisfactory results in the cases of ethyl acetate or lactones initiators, and gave the following order for the relative efficiency of initiators: N-acetyl lactam > ?-caprolactone ≥ ethyl acetate > β-propiolactone. The polymerization results obtained by the salt from NaAlEt₄ catalyst–ethyl acetate initiator system were nearly the same as those with N-acetyl lactam. The increases in the degree of polymerization and in the yield of polymer were observed in case of the salt from NaAlEt₄ catalyst-lactone initiator system, particularly in the cases of α-piperidone and ?-caprolactam. Also an incorporation of initiator into polymer chain was observed.     

An Environmentally Benign Catalytic Method for Efficient and Selective Nucleophilic Ring Opening of Oxiranes by Zirconium Tetrakis(dodecyl Sulfate)

An operationally simple and environmentally benign protocol for a highly regio‐ and chemoselective preparation of β‐substituted alcohols by means of ring‐opening reactions of oxiranes with various aliphatic alcohols, H₂O, NaN₃, and NaCN as nucleophiles in the presence of catalytic amounts of zirconium tetrakis(dodecyl sulfate) as Lewis acid/surfactant‐combined catalysts (LASCs) was developed. The high efficiency of the catalyst was confirmed by the high product yields obtained within desired times and, in particularly by the reusability of the Zr^IV complex.     

Synthesizing UHMWPE Using Ziegler-Natta Catalyst System of MgCl2(ethoxide type)/ TiCl4/tri-isobutylaluminum

Summery: A Ziegler-Natta catalyst of MgCl₂ (ethoxide type)/TiCl₄ has been synthesized. In order to obtain ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) tri-isobutylaluminum which is less active to chain transfer was used as cocatalyst. Slurry polymerization was carried out for the polymerization of ethylene while, dilute solution viscometry was performed for the viscosity average molecular weight (Mv) measurement. The effect of [Al]/[Ti] molar ratio, temperature, monomer pressure and polymerization time on the Mv and productivity of the catalyst have been investigated. The results showed increasing [Al]/[Ti] ratio in the range of 78–117, decreased the Mv of the obtained polymer from 7.8 × 10⁶ to 3.7 × 10⁶ however, further increase of the ratio, resulted in decreased of by much slower rate up to [Al]/[Ti] = 588. The higher pressure in the range of 1–7 bars showed the higher the Mv of the polymer obtained, while increasing temperature in the range of 50 to 90 °C decreased the Mv from 9.3 × 10⁶ to 3.7 × 10⁶. The Mv rapidly increase with polymerization time in the first 15 minutes of the reaction, this increase was slowly up to the end of the reaction (120 min). Increasing [Al]/[Ti] ratio raised productivity of the catalyst in the range studied. Rising reaction temperature from 50 to 75 °C increased the productivity of the catalyst however, further increase in the temperature up to the 90 °C decreased activity of the catalyst. Monomer pressure in the range 1 to 7 bars yields higher productivity of the catalyst. Also by varying polymerization conditions synthesizing of UHMWPE with Mv in the range of 3 × 10⁶ to 9 × 10⁶ was feasible.     

Palladium acetate assisted synthesis of five-membered N-polyheterocycles

Abstract

The metal-assisted synthesis of heterocyclic compounds is known to be one of the extremely developing as well as significant concepts of organic chemistry. Because of their expensive, complex working of the instrument and difficult procedures, the methodologies used earlier for the heterocycle synthesis were less amicable to the researchers. The Pd(OAc)₂-mediated cyclic reactions have been recognized to be very effective for both the stereoselective as well as regioselective formation of the 5-membered N-bearing heterocyclic compounds. The different uses of palladium acetate, as a catalyst in the formation of 5-membered N-containing polyheterocycles, are covered in this review article.     

Natural Abundance 15N NMR by Dynamic Nuclear Polarization: Fast Analysis of Binding Sites of a Novel Amine‐Carboxyl‐Linked Immobilized Dirhodium Catalyst

A novel heterogeneous dirhodium catalyst has been synthesized. This stable catalyst is constructed from dirhodium acetate dimer (Rh₂(OAc)₄) units, which are covalently linked to amine‐ and carboxyl‐bifunctionalized mesoporous silica (SBA‐15?NH₂?COOH). It shows good efficiency in catalyzing the cyclopropanation reaction of styrene and ethyl diazoacetate (EDA) forming cis‐ and trans‐1‐ethoxycarbonyl‐2‐phenylcyclopropane. To characterize the structure of this catalyst and to confirm the successful immobilization, heteronuclear solid‐state NMR experiments have been performed. The high application potential of dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) NMR for the analysis of binding sites in this novel catalyst is demonstrated. Signal‐enhanced ¹³C CP MAS and ¹⁵N CP MAS techniques have been employed to detect different carboxyl and amine binding sites in natural abundance on a fast time scale. The interpretation of the experimental chemical shift values for different binding sites has been corroborated by quantum chemical calculations on dirhodium model complexes.     

Precise Synthesis of Chiral Z-Allylamides by Cobalt-Catalyzed Asymmetric Sequential Hydrogenations

Asymmetric sequential hydrogenations of conjugated enynes have been developed using a Ph-BPE-Co^I catalyst for the precise synthesis of chiral Z-allylamides in high activity (up to 1000 substrate/catalyst (S/C)) and with excellent enantioselectivity (up to >99 % enantiomeric excess (ee)). Mechanism experiments and theoretical calculations support a cationic Co^I/Co^III redox catalytic cycle. The catalytic activity difference between cobalt complexes of Ph-BPE and QuinoxP* was explained by the process decomposition of rate-determining step in the second hydrogenation.     

Green and mild oxidation: from acetate anion to oxalate anion

Abstract

A novel reaction system for the preparation of oxalate anion from cupric acetate and 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline under green and mild reaction conditions is reported herein, namely, the methyl group from the acetate anion has been oxidized into a carboxyl group by air in the presence of Cu^II ion and 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline at 0 to 30?°C. In the reaction, the Cu^II complex was formed with 1,10-phenanthrolin-2-ol and oxalate as ligands, in which 1,10-phenanthrolin-2-ol comes from the hydrolysis of 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline and oxalate from the oxidation of acetate. The reaction system functions similarly to those of fungi.

The reaction system reported herein can oxidize methyl group into oxalate anion undergreen and mild reaction condition.     

Asymmetric N-heterocyclic carbene benzimidazolium salts and their silver(I) complexes: potential as ionic liquid crystals

The synthesis and characterisation of a homologous series of monodentate benzimidazolium salts, 1–4 and their mononuclear silver(I)–NHC (where NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) complexes, 5–8, are reported. The benzimidazolium salts were prepared from the N-alkylation of 1-methyl-benzimidazole with alkyl halides of varying carbon chain lengths. The mono silver(I)-NHC complexes, 5–8, were prepared by the reaction of the benzimidazolium salts with Ag₂O. All the synthesised compounds were fully characterised by ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR), ¹³C-NMR and fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The molecular structures of compounds 3·PF₆, 4·PF₆, 7 and 8 were elucidated through single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. We postulate that the attachment of long alkyl chains to the heterocyclic core of 1-methyl benzimidazole could induce mesophase formation. The liquid crystalline behaviour of the benzimidazolium salts was investigated by polarised optical microscope and differential scanning calorimetry. Salts 3 and 4 were found to be thermotropic liquid crystals which exhibited a smectic A phase. However, upon complexation with silver(I) ions, all the Ag(I)–NHC complexes are found to be non-mesogenic.     

原位合成石墨烯负载的Co-P催化剂及光解水制氢

在石墨烯(GP)基底上利用光电子原位还原合成了具有非晶态结构的Co-P/GP光催化剂。通过X射线衍射仪(XRD)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)表征,证明所制备的催化剂在石墨烯载体上分散性好、粒径小,具有非晶态结构。由XPS表征了催化剂的表面电子状态,发现催化剂表面的Co和P主要是以还原态存在,有利于表面富集电子。经过曙红敏化,催化剂在可见光辐照下具有很好的光催化制氢性能。考察了不同物质的量之比nCo∶nP的制氢速率,当nCo∶nP=5∶1时,3 h的平均制氢量为24.5 mmol·h~(-1)·gCo~(-1)。考察了不同波长条件下催化剂制氢的量子效率,当波长为430 nm时,Co-P/GP催化剂的制氢量子效率AQE达到8.4%,比没有添加P的Co/GP催化剂提高了1.5倍。