Base-induced Brönsted Acid Sites on Dealuminated HY Zeolite: A Solid-state NMR Spectroscopy Study

Using trimethylphosphine (TMP) and d₅-pyridine(deuterated pyridine) as the basic probe molecules, the concentrations of Brönsted acid sites on both HY zeolite and dealuminated HY zeolite have been quantitatively determined using solid-state ¹H and ³¹P magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR. After adsorption of the probe molecules, the concentration of Brönsted acid sites on the dealuminated HY zeolite increases by about 25%, whereas that in the parent HY sample remains almost unchanged. The increase in the concentration of Brönsted acid sites is due to the appearance of base-induced Brönsted acid sites in the dealuminated HY zeolite. The terminal SiOH in the vicinity of the aluminum atom is “induced” to form a bridging hydroxyl group (SiOHAl) in the presence of the basic probe molecules. The mechanism of formation of the induced Brönsted acid sites has also been discussed.     

Effect of Brønsted/Lewis Acid Ratio on Conversion of Sugars to 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural over Mesoporous Nb and Nb‐W Oxides

A series of mesoporous Nb and Nb‐W oxides were employed as highly active solid acid catalysts for the conversion of glucose to 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF ). The results of solid state ³¹P MAS NMR spectroscopy with adsorbed trimethylphosphine as probe molecule show that the addition of W in niobium oxide increases the number of Brønsted acid sites and decreases the number of Lewis acid sites. The catalytic performance for Nb‐W oxides varied with the ratio of Brønsted to Lewis acid sites and high glucose conversion was observed over Nb₅W₅ and Nb₇W₃ oxides with high ratios of Brønsted to Lewis acid sites. All Nb‐W oxides show a relatively high selectivity of HMF , whereas no HMF forms over sulfuric acid due to its pure Brønsted acidity. The results indicate fast isomerization of glucose to fructose over Lewis acid sites followed by dehydration of fructose to HMF over Brønsted acid sites. Moreover, comparing to the reaction occurred in aqueous media, the 2‐butanol/H₂O system enhances the HMF selectivity and stabilizes the activity of the catalysts which gives the highest HMF selectivity of 52% over Nb₇W₃ oxide. The 2‐butanol/H₂O catalytic system can also be employed in conversion of sucrose, achieving HMF selectivity of 46% over Nb₅W₅ oxide.     

Comparison of the acidic properties of ZSM-5 zeolites isomorphously substituted by Ga,In, B and Fe

The acidic properties of isomorphously substituted MFI-type zeolites prepared and pretreated in the same way were studied to obtain an exact gradation of the intrinsic acidity caused by the incorporation of Ga, Fe, In and B instead of Al into the framework. The nature, strength and concentration of the acidic sites were studied by temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (TPDA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The assignment of the two peaks observed in the TPDA plots of all zeolite samples required the additional registration of the decomposition plot of the ammonium form in the cases of In-ZSM-5 and B-ZSM-5. A temperature program with two ramps and an intermediate isothermal hold was used to separate the low-temperature peak from the high-temperature peak. In this way, the Brönsted sites could be determined more clearly on samples containing a high portion of non-framework species that inhibit the egress of ammonia from the pores. The nature and the strength of the acidic sites were spectroscopically characterized by recording the stretching vibration of the bridged OH groups of Brönsted sites and the spectra of pyridine adsorbed on Brönsted and Lewis sites. The intrinsic acidity of the Brönsted sites on In-ZSM-5 could be clearly classified to be intermediate between the acid strength of B- and Fe-ZSM-5. A relation could be revealed between the frequencies of the OH-stretching vibration and the temperature of the peak maxima of ammonia desorption from the Brönsted sites of the isomorphously substituted ZSM-5 samples.     

A FTIR assessment of surface acidity and dispersion of surface species in titania and alumina-supported molybdena

Adsorption of pyridine on the MoO₃/TiO₂ and MoO₃/Al₂O₃ systems has been studied by FTIR spectroscopy, in order to identify surface acid sites existing in samples with different molybdena loadings. The results show that both Lewis and Brönsted surface acid sites exist, whatever the molybdena loading. The percentage of Brönsted sites is larger for loadings below the theoretical monolayer, and should correspond to bidimensional molybdenum oxides species, while for loadings above the monolayer these sites are associated with bulk MoO₃.     

Insight into Three‐Coordinate Aluminum Species on Ethanol‐to‐Olefin Conversion over ZSM‐5 Zeolites

Commercial bioethanol can be readily converted into ethylene by a dehydration process using solid acids, such as Brønsted acidic H‐ZSM‐5 zeolites, and thus, it is an ideal candidate to replace petroleum and coal for the sustainable production of ethylene. Now, strong Lewis acidic extra‐framework three‐coordinate Al³⁺ species were introduced into H‐ZSM‐5 zeolites to improve their catalytic activity. Remarkably, Al³⁺ species working with Brønsted acid sites can accelerate ethanol dehydration at a much lower reaction temperature and shorten the unsteady‐state period within 1–2 h, compared to >9 h for those without Al³⁺ species, which can significantly enhance the ethanol dehydration efficiency and reduce the cost. The reaction mechanism, studied by solid‐state NMR, shows that strong Lewis acidic EFAl‐Al³⁺ species can collaborate with Brønsted acid sites and promote ethanol dehydration either directly or indirectly via an aromatics‐based cycle to produce ethylene.     

Acidity of Alginate Aerogels Studied by FTIR Spectroscopy of Probe Molecules

Supercritical drying of alginate gels is an efficient way to prepare aerogels with high surface area (>300 m² · g⁻¹). FTIR spectroscopy allows to monitor the adsorption of NH₃ from the gas phase onto the acid sites of the alginate. Free carboxylic groups are effective Brønsted sites, whereas the divalent cations used in the ionotropic gelation present the properties of Lewis sites. The ratio between Brønsted and Lewis sites provides infomation on the role of pH in alginate gelation and suggests that non-buffered gelation by transition-metal cations is a mixed ionotropic-acid process.     

Configuration of MFI-type zeolite interacting with the probe molecule P(CH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>3</Subscript> – a theoretical study

With P(CH₃)₃ as the probe molecule adsorbed on titanium silicalite (TS-1) zeolite, the special and important role of T12 site in MFI-type zeolite was clearly elucidated. There are altogether three active sites present in TS-1 zeolite with Ti at the T12 site. Owing to the preferential adsorption of probe molecules on the first Brönsted acidic site, the Ti12 center will probably fail to show Lewis acidity. The ionic [HP(CH₃)₃]⁺ species can be stabilized by the first or second Brönsted acidic site, with the former energetically favored. The latter was formed through the transfer of the ionic [HP(CH₃)₃]⁺ species from the first to the second Brönsted acidic site.     

Keggin-type phosphotungstic acid supported on mesoporous SiO2–Al2O3 aerogel like beads and their application in the isopropylation of naphthalene

Spherical mesoporous silica–alumina aerogel like beads based on sol–gel technology and the drop wise addition have been synthesized and used as catalyst support for phosphotungstic acid (PWA). Their catalytic performances in the isopropylation of naphthalene with isopropanol were investigated in a batch reactor. It was found that PWA was highly dispersed on the silica–alumina support and their Keggin structure can be retained. In addition, PWA/SiO₂–Al₂O₃ catalyst showed high surface area, both of Lewis acid sites and Brönsted acid sites. Because of having more Brönsted acid sites, silica–alumina supported acid catalysts showed much higher conversion (87.97 %) and selectivity to diisopropylnaphthalenes (41.41 %) and β,β-products (59.82 %) than pure acid and reactive supports in the isopropylation of naphthalene. The catalytic behavior has been discussed in relation with the physical chemical properties of catalysts, reaction and activation temperature and reaction time.     

Methanol to Gasoline over ZSM-5 Zeolite Treated with Alkaline Mixture with Different Ratios of TBA<Superscript>+</Superscript>/OH<Superscript>–</Superscript>

The influence of ZSM-5 (SiO₂/Al₂O₃ = 50) treatment with a tetrabutylamine hydroxide (TBAOH)/NaOH mixture having different mole ratios on its physicochemical properties and catalytic performance in the reaction of methanol to gasoline (MTG) was investigated. It was found that, with increasing ratio TBA⁺/OH^–, the crystallinities, micropore surface areas, micropore volumes, the amounts of strong acid sites and Brönsted acid sites gradually increased, and the mesopore volumes decreased. The treatment with pure TBAOH (TBA⁺/OH^– = 1.0) ensured the formation of narrow and uniform intracrystalline mesoporosity and the large amounts of strong or Brönsted acid sites on the zeolite, which contribute to the highest liquid hydrocarbon yield in the reaction of MTG.     

Surface acidity of supported vanadia catalysts

The surface acidity of SiO₂, γ-Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ supported vanadia catalysts has been studied by the microcalorimetry and infrared spectroscopy using ammonia as the probe molecule. The acidity in terms of nature, number and strength was correlated with surface structures of vanadia species in the catalysts, characterized by X-ray diffraction and UV-Vis spectroscopy. It was found that the dispersion and surface structure of vanadia species depend on the nature of supports and loading and affect strongly the surface acidity. On SiO₂, vanadium species is usually in the form of polycrystalline V₂O₅ even for the catalyst with low loading (3%) and these V₂O₅ crystallites exhibit similar amount of Brönsted and Lewis acid sites. The 25%V₂O₅/SiO₂ catalyst possesses substantial amount of V₂O₅ crystallites on the surface with the initial heat of 105 kJ mol^-1 and coverage of about 600 mmol g^-1 for ammonia adsorption. Vanadia can be well dispersed on g-Al₂O₃and TiO₂ to form isolated tetrahedral species and polymeric two-dimensional network. Addition of vanadia on γ-Al₂O₃ results in the change of acidity from that associated with g-Al₂O₃ (mainly Lewis sites) to that associated with vanadia (mainly Brönsted sites) and leads to the decreased acid strength. The 3%V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalyst may have the vanadia structure of incomplete polymeric two-dimensional network that possesses the Ti-O-V-OH groups at edges showing strong Brönsted acidity with the initial heat of about 140 kJ mol^-1 for ammonia adsorption. On the other hand, the 10%V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalyst may have well defined polymeric two-dimensional vanadia network, possessing V-O-V-OH groups that exhibit rather weak Brönsted acidity with the heat of 90 kJ mol^-1 for NH₃ adsorption. V₂O₅ crystallites are formed on the 25%V₂O₅/TiO₂ catalyst, which exhibit the acid properties similar to those for 25%V₂O₅ on SiO₂ and γ-Al₂O₃.     

Production and reactions of xylenes over H-ZSM5

Disproportion of toluene, isomerization of xylenes and alkylation of toluene with methanol were investigated over a series of H-ZSM5 zeolites varying in Si/Al ratio. The specific rates per unit cell of H-ZSM5 for disproportionation of toluene and isomerization of xylene were found to be directly proportional to the concentration of strong Brönsted acid sites for all temperatures investigated. For temperatures above 573 K, the corresponding specific rates for alkylation of toluene with methanol were found to be independent of the concentration of strong Brönsted acid sites. In contrast, at 473 K a significant dependence was observed. We explain this variation of the dependence of the specific rate upon the concentration of strong Brönsted acid sites by the contribution of two reaction pathways to the overall reaction rate.     

The effect of FER zeolite acid sites in methanol-to-dimethyl-ether catalytic dehydration

In this paper, the effect of acidity of zeolites with FER framework was studied in the methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether reaction, by comparing catalysts with different Si/Al ratios(namely 8, 30 and60). The aim of this work was to investigate how the acid sites concentration, strength, distribution and typology(Br?nsted and Lewis) affect methanol conversion, DME selectivity and coke formation. It was found that the aluminium content affects slightly acid sites strength whilst a relevant effect on acid sites concentration and distribution(Br?nsted/Lewis) was observed as 24% of Lewis sites were found on Alrichest samples, whilst less than 10% of Lewis acid sites were observed on FER at higher Si/Al ratio. All the investigated catalyst samples showed a selectivity toward DME always greater than 0.9 and samples with the lowest Si/Al ratio exhibit the best performances in terms of methanol conversion, approaching the theoretical equilibrium value(around 0.85) at temperatures below 200 °C. Turnover-frequency analysis suggests that this result seems to be related not only to the higher amount of acid sites but also that the presence of Lewis acid sites may play a significant role in converting methanol. On the other hand, the presence of Lewis acid sites, combined with a high acidity, promote the formation of by-products(mainly methane) and coke deposition during the reaction. As final evidence, all the investigated catalysts exhibit very high resistance to deactivation by coke deposition, over 60 h continuous test, and a GC–MS analysis of the coke deposited on the catalyst surface reveals tetra-methyl benzene as main component.     

Dynamical Equilibrium between Brønsted and Lewis Sites in Zeolites: Framework-Associated Octahedral Aluminum

While the structures of Brønsted acid sites (BAS) in zeolites are well understood, those of Lewis acid sites (LAS) remain an active area of investigation. Under hydrated conditions, the reversible formation of framework-associated octahedral aluminum has been observed in zeolites in the acidic form. However, the structure and formation mechanisms are currently unknown. In this work, combined experimental ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopy and computational data reveal for the first time the details of the zeolite framework-associated octahedral aluminium. The octahedral LAS site becomes kinetically allowed and thermodynamically stable under wet conditions in the presence of multiple nearby BAS sites. The critical condition for the existence of such octahedral LAS appears to be the availability of three protons: at lower proton concentration, either by increasing the Si/Al or by ion-exchange to non-acidic form, the tetrahedral BAS becomes thermodynamically more stable. This work resolves the question about the nature and reversibility of framework-associated octahedral aluminium in zeolites.     

Asymmetric Aza-Diels–Alder Reaction with Ion-Paired—Iron Lewis Acid—Brønsted Acid Catalyst

The development and use of a multiple-activation catalyst with ion-paired Lewis acid and Brønsted acid in an asymmetric aza-Diels–Alder reaction of simple dienes (non-Danishefsky-type electron-rich dienes) was achieved by utilizing the [FeBr₂]⁺[FeBr₄]⁻ combination prepared in situ from FeBr₃ and chiral phosphoric acid. Synergistic effects of the highly active ion-paired Lewis acid [FeBr₂]⁺[FeBr₄]⁻ and a chiral Brønsted acid are important for promoting the reaction with high turnover frequency and high enantioselectivity. The multiple-activation catalyst system was confirmed using synchrotron-based X-ray absorption fine structure measurements, and theoretical studies. This study reveals that the developed catalyst promoted the reaction not only by the interaction offered by the ion-paired Lewis acid and the Brønsted acid but also noncovalent interactions.     

Quantification of the Activation Capabilities of Lewis/Brφnsted Acid for Electrophilic Trifluoromethylthiolating Reagents

Summary of main observation and conclusion Electrophilic trifluoromethylthiolation has emerged as an important and efficient methodology for installing the SCF3 moiety onto an array of organic molecules.Due to the low reactivities of trifluoromethylthiolating reagents,these transformations often require activation through an exogenous Lewis/Br0nsted acid.We report herein the quantification of the activation capabilities of Lewis/Br0nsted acids for trifluoromethylthiolating reagents through computing the differenee in trifluoromethylthio cation donor ability(Tt+DA)between the"activated"and"unactivated"reagent.A moderate correlation is found to exist between the activation capability and Lewis acidity.     

Acidic and basic sites in NaX and NaY faujasites investigated by NH3, CO2 and CO molecular probes

The acid-base properties of samples of NaY and NaX faujasites have been investigated by adsorbing different probe molecules and measuring IR spectra. In the case of the NaY sample, only Na⁺ ions were found to be involved in the adsorption of CO₂ and CO, confirming the overwhelming Lewis acid character of this material. In contrast, carbonate-like species were formed by adsorbing carbon dioxide on the NaX sample, due to the reaction of basic framework oxygen atoms with CO₂ molecules polarised on neighbour Na⁺ ions. The spectroscopic analysis of NaX also showed evidence of Brønsted acid hydroxyls and OH groups bonded to extra-framework Al atoms. Ammonia adsorption revealed that the amount of Brønsted acid hydroxyls is significantly lower than the Lewis acid Na⁺ countercations. Moreover, small oxide particles, carrying carbonate-like species on their surface, are present in the zeolitic cavities. These particles could be responsible for the basic reactivity towards CO observed after outgassing the NaX sample at high temperature.     

Regulation of Brønsted acid sites in H-MOR for selective methyl methoxyacetate synthesis

As it is well known, Brønsted acid sites in 8-MR of H-MOR (mordenite) are selective for dimethyl ether (DME) carbonylation to methyl acetate, whereas those in 12-MR are more prone to methanol to olefin reaction. Interestingly, we observed that the Brønsted acid sites in 12-MR of H-MOR are highly active for dimethoxymethane (DMM) carbonylation to methyl methoxyacetate (MMAc), whereas those in 8-MR led to the formation of DME. A series of modified H-MOR catalysts with accurate regulation of Brønsted acid sites in 12-MR or 8-MR were successfully synthesized by selective Na⁺ exchange or pyridine (Py) adsorption. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, NH₃-temperature-programmed desorption, Py-FT-IR, and inductively coupled plasma analyses suggested that Na⁺ first occupied Brønsted acid sites in 8-MR and then replaced those in 12-MR. All Na⁺-exchanged catalysts exhibited significant acceleration on MMAc selectivity, and the ratio of Brønsted acid amount in 12-MR/total had a positive correlation with MMAc selectivity. The MMAc selectivity (78%) of H-MOR-0.15Na was nearly 2.5 times more than that of untreated H-MOR (31%). However, H-MOR-Py showed almost no carbonylation activity (<1% MMAc) and a highest DME selectivity (98%), indicating that Brønsted acid sites in 12-MR were the only active sites for DMM carbonylation, whereas those in 8-MR tended to accelerate DMM disproportionation to DME.     

"Designer acids": combined acid catalysis for asymmetric synthesis

Lewis and Brønsted acids can be utilized as more‐effective tools for chemical reactions by sophisticated engineering (“designer acids”). The ultimate goal of such “designer acids” is to form a combination of acids with higher reactivity, selectivity, and versatility than the individual acid catalysts. One possible way to take advantage of such abilities may be to apply a “combined acids system” to the catalyst design. The concept of combined acids, which can be classified into Brønsted acid assisted Lewis acid (BLA), Lewis acid assisted Lewis acid (LLA), Lewis acid assisted Brønsted acid (LBA), and Brønsted acid assisted Brønsted acid (BBA), can be a particularly useful tool for the design of asymmetric catalysis, because combining such acids will bring out their inherent reactivity by associative interaction, and also provide more‐organized structures that allow an effective asymmetric environment.     

Role of the nature of copper sites in the activity of copper-based catalysts for no conversion

The activities of the copper-based catalysts, Cu²⁺ /SiO²,Cu²⁺ /Vycor and Cu²⁺/ZSM-5, and V²O⁵/TiO² for NO conversion to N² in the presence or absence of NH³ and/or O² have been investigated. The Cu²⁺ /ZSM-5 catalyst exhibited the highest activity, even higher than that of V²O⁵/TiO². Photoluminescence studies of the dehydrated copper-based catalysts have suggested that the copper ions anchored onto ZSM-5 locate as isolated copper species near Brönsted sites in the zeolite channels while the copper ions anchored onto Vycor and SiO² locate mainly as copper dimer forms. These results suggest the role of copper ions which are stabilized with near-lying oxygen vacancies created by dehydroxylation of the zeolite, in NO conversion. As a result, it may be concluded that the isolated copper ions near Brönsted sites play a significant role in NO conversion but dimeric or polynuclear copper species are less effective for the reaction.     

On the synergistic catalytic properties of bimetallic mesoporous materials containing aluminum and zirconium: the Prins cyclisation of citronellal

Bimetallic three‐dimensional amorphous mesoporous materials, Al‐Zr‐TUD‐1 materials, were synthesised by using a surfactant‐free, one‐pot procedure employing triethanolamine (TEA) as a complexing reagent. The amount of aluminium and zirconium was varied in order to study the effect of these metals on the Brønsted and Lewis acidity, as well as on the resulting catalytic activity of the material. The materials were characterised by various techniques, including elemental analysis, X‐ray diffraction, high‐resolution TEM, N₂ physisorption, temperature‐programmed desorption (TPD) of NH₃, and ²⁷Al MAS NMR, XPS and FT‐IR spectroscopy using pyridine and CO as probe molecules. Al‐Zr‐TUD‐1 materials are mesoporous with surface areas ranging from 700–900 m² g^?1, an average pore size of around 4 nm and a pore volume of around 0.70 cm³ g^?1. The synthesised Al‐Zr‐TUD‐1 materials were tested as catalyst materials in the Lewis acid catalysed Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction of 4‐tert‐butylcyclohexanone, the intermolecular Prins synthesis of nopol and in the intramolecular Prins cyclisation of citronellal. Although Al‐Zr‐TUD‐1 catalysts possess a lower amount of acid sites than their monometallic counterparts, according to TPD of NH₃, these materials outperformed those of the monometallic Al‐TUD‐1 as well as Zr‐TUD‐1 in the Prins cyclisation of citronellal. This proves the existence of synergistic properties of Al‐Zr‐TUD‐1. Due to the intramolecular nature of the Prins cyclisation of citronellal, the hydrophilic surface of the catalyst as well as the presence of both Brønsted and Lewis acid sites synergy could be obtained with bimetallic Al‐Zr‐TUD‐1. Besides spectroscopic investigation of the active sites of the catalyst material a thorough testing of the catalyst in different types of reactions is crucial in identifying its specific active sites.