Specific Sorption Sites for Nitrogen in Zeolites NaLSX and LiLSX

Specific sorption sites for nitrogen, N₂, in NaLSX and LiLSX zeolites were investigated using a DRIFT spectroscopic method. Sorption of molecular hydrogen, H₂, by NaLSX or LiLSX zeolite at 77 K with DRIFT control of perturbation of sorbed molecules allowed to discriminate two or three different types of specific sorption sites in the respective zeolites. Their H–H stretching frequencies are 4077 and 4081 cm^–1 for NaLSX, and 4061, 4084 and 4129 cm^–1 for LiLSX. With reference to an independent investigation by methods of both sorption thermodynamics and molecular modeling for N₂ sorption on LiLSX, the first two of the corresponding bands were ascribed to H₂ sorption on lithium cations, Li⁺, localized in supercages of the faujasite, FAU, zeolite framework at sites SIII and SIII, while the latter band most likely belongs to H₂ sorption on Li⁺ cations at sites SII, and on hydroxyl groups, OH. Sorption of N₂ by Li⁺ cations at sites SIII and SIII is the strongest, resulting in a decrease of intensity of the corresponding DRIFT bands that stem from subsequent H₂ sorption. Nitrogen sorption by Li⁺ cations at sites SII is much weaker. Sorption of N₂ on Na⁺ cations at sites SIII in NaLSX zeolite is also stronger than by Na⁺ cations at sites SII.     

Biomimetic Oxidations Using Transition Metal Complexes Encapsulated in Zeolites

An account of biomimetic oxidations by metal phthalocyanines, tri- and tetra-aza macrocycles, Schiff bases (salen and saloph), dimeric Cu-acetate and Co-Mn-acetate complexes encapsulated in zeolite-Y and molecular sieves is reported. The selective oxidation reactions investigated include epoxidation of styrene, hydroxylation of phenol, oxidation of p-xylene to terephthalic acid, ethylbenzene to acetophenone and cyclohexane, cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone to adipic acid. In all these reactions, the encapsulated metal complexes exhibit enhanced activity or selectivity compared to the neat complexes. The reasons for the enhanced activity of metal complexes upon encapsulation in zeolites are reported.     

Reorientational Dynamics of Water Confined in Zeolites

We present a detailed molecular‐dynamics study of water reorientation and hydrogen‐bond dynamics in a strong confinement situation, within the narrow pores of an all‐silica Linde type A (LTA) zeolite. Two water loadings of the zeolite are compared with the bulk case. Water dynamics are retarded in this extreme hydrophobic confinement and the slowdown is more pronounced at higher water loading. We show that water reorientation proceeds mainly by large‐amplitude angular jumps, whose mechanism is similar to that determined in the bulk. The slowdown upon hydrophobic confinement arises predominantly from an excluded‐volume effect on the large fraction of water molecules lying at the interface with the zeolite matrix, with an additional minor contribution coming from a structuring effect induced by the confinement.     

Beyond Acid Strength in Zeolites: Soft Framework Counteranions for Stabilization of Carbocations on Zeolites and Its Implication in Organic Synthesis

The generation of a carbocation with an acid depends not only on the acid strength but also on the ability of the counteranion to stabilize the positive charge left behind. Here we report that despite their relatively weak acidity, zeolites are able to generate and stabilize medium‐size (molecular weight ≈300 Da) delocalized carbocations on their surface under mild reaction conditions, as it can be done by strong Brønsted or Lewis acids in solution. The zeolite thus acts as a soft macroanion, prolonging the lifetime of the carbocation sufficiently to perform multifunctionalization reactions with amides, thioamides, and phenols, with high yield and selectivity. Biological studies show that some of the products obtained here present significant inhibition activity against colon cancer cells, illustrating the new possibilities of zeolites to prepare complex organic molecules.     

Hierarchical Zeolites as Catalysts for Biodiesel Production from Waste Frying Oils to Overcome Mass Transfer Limitations

Hierarchical crystals with short diffusion path, conventional microcrystals and nanocrystals of ZSM-5 zeolites were used for biodiesel production from waste frying oils and were assessed for their catalytic activity in regard to their pore structure and acidic properties. Produced zeolites were characterized using XRD, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, SEM, TEM, X-ray fluorescence, and FTIR. Pore size effect on molecular diffusion limitation was assessed by Thiele modulus calculations and turnover frequencies (TOF) were used to discuss the correlation between acidic character and catalytic performance of the zeolites. Owing to the enhanced accessibility and mass transfer of triglycerides and free fatty acids to the elemental active zeolitic structure, the catalytic performance of nanosponge and nanosheet hierarchical zeolites was the highest. A maximum yield of 48.29% was reached for the transesterification of waste frying oils (WFOs) using HZSM-5 nanosheets at 12:1 methanol to WFOs molar ratio, 180 °C, 10 wt % catalyst loading, and 4 h reaction time. Although HZSM-5 nanosponges achieved high conversions, these more hydrophilic zeolites did not function according to their entire acidic strength in comparison to HZSM-5 nanosheets. NSh-HZSM5 catalytic performance was still high after 4 consecutive cycles as a result of the zeolite regeneration.     

Framework Effects on Activation and Functionalisation of Methane in Zinc-Exchanged Zeolites

The first selective oxidation of methane to methanol is reported herein for zinc-exchanged MOR (Zn/MOR). Under identical conditions, Zn/FER and Zn/ZSM-5 both form zinc formate and methanol. Selective methane activation to form [Zn-CH₃]⁺ species was confirmed by ¹³C MAS NMR spectroscopy for all three frameworks. The percentage of active zinc sites, measured through quantitative NMR spectroscopy studies, varied with the zeolite framework and was found to be ZSM-5 (5.7 %), MOR (1.2 %) and FER (0.5 %). For Zn/MOR, two signals were observed in the ¹³C MAS NMR spectrum, resulting from two distinct [Zn-CH₃]⁺ species present in the 12 MR and 8 MR side pockets, as supported by additional NMR experiments. The observed products of oxidation of the [Zn-CH₃]⁺ species are shown to depend on the zeolite framework type and the oxidative conditions used. These results lay the foundation for developing structure–function correlations for methane conversion over zinc-exchanged zeolites.     

Calixarene-Based Copper(I) Complexes as Models for Monocopper Sites in Enzymes

A cavity that acts as a molecular funnel is formed from calix[6]arene 1 and [Cu^I(NCCH₃)₄]PF₆ [Eq. (a)]. An exchange of the well-protected acetonitrile ligand for other nitriles RCN is only possible with small R groups. The protection of the copper ions precludes oxidative dimerization; thus, the complexes mimic the mononuclear site of copper enzymes.     

Adsorption of SO2 from Wet Mixtures on Hydrophobic Zeolites

Breakthrough curve measurements of SO₂ and water vapor were carried out on a number of selected mordenite and pentasil zeolites from their binary and ternary mixtures with CO₂ at 50 and 100°C. SO₂ capacities of these samples were found to be significantly reduced by the presence of water. Competitive adsorption led to unusually high overshoot peaks of SO₂ breakthrough curves. On the other hand, SO₂ was found to displace water on the samples with very high silica to alumina ratio. A linear driving force, isothermal model was used to predict the breakthrough curves. Langmuir and extended Langmuir equilibrium models were used to describe the equilibrium properties of water and SO₂, respectively. The overall mass transfer resistance obtained from the model was compared to the values calculated from a simplified biporous adsorbent model to shed some light on the adsorption kinetics.     

黏度法测定部分水解聚丙烯酰胺相对分子质量教学实验的改进

黏度法是测定部分水解聚丙烯酰胺（HPAM）相对分子质量的最常用方法。针对当前实验教学中没有考虑HPAM水解度的差异所带来的相对分子质量测定偏差,建议通过酸碱滴定的方法测定试样的水解度,并以水解度作为选择相对分子质量计算参数的依据,从而得到正确的HPAM相对分子质量。     

Structure of Framework Aluminum Lewis Sites and Perturbed Aluminum Atoms in Zeolites as Determined by 27Al{1H} REDOR (3Q) MAS NMR Spectroscopy and DFT/Molecular Mechanics

Zeolites are highly important heterogeneous catalysts. Besides Brønsted SiOHAl acid sites, also framework Al_FR Lewis acid sites are often found in their H‐forms. The formation of Al_FR Lewis sites in zeolites is a key issue regarding their selectivity in acid‐catalyzed reactions. The local structures of Al_FR Lewis sites in dehydrated zeolites and their precursors—“perturbed” Al_FR atoms in hydrated zeolites—were studied by high‐resolution MAS NMR and FTIR spectroscopy and DFT/MM calculations. Perturbed framework Al atoms correspond to (SiO)₃AlOH groups and are characterized by a broad ²⁷Al NMR resonance (δ_i=59–62 ppm, C_Q=5 MHz, and η=0.3–0.4) with a shoulder at 40 ppm in the ²⁷Al MAS NMR spectrum. Dehydroxylation of (SiO)₃AlOH occurs at mild temperatures and leads to the formation of Al_FR Lewis sites tricoordinated to the zeolite framework. Al atoms of these (SiO)₃Al Lewis sites exhibit an extremely broad ²⁷Al NMR resonance (δ_i≈67 ppm, C_Q≈20 MHz, and η≈0.1).     

Molar Entropy and Enthalpy of CO Adsorbed in Zeolites as Derived from VTIR Data: Role of Intermolecular Modes

Detailed analysis of recently reported variable-temperature IR (VTIR) spectra of carbon monoxide adsorbed in alkaline zeolites shows how, not only the corresponding values of standard adsorption enthalpy ( ) and entropy ( ) can be obtained, but also the thermodynamic values of molar entropy and enthalpy which characterize the adsorbed gas phase. In addition, it is shown that the so obtained molar entropy data can lead to new insights into soft molecular modes, which would be hardly accessible by conventional IR spectroscopic techniques.     

Mechanism of Framework Oxygen Exchange in Fe‐Zeolites: A Combined DFT and Mass Spectrometry Study

The role of framework oxygen atoms in N₂O decomposition [N₂O(g)→N₂(g) and 1/2O₂(g)] over Fe‐ferrierite is investigated employing a combined experimental (N₂¹⁸O decomposition in batch experiments followed by mass spectroscopy measurements) and theoretical (density functional theory calculations) approach. The occurrence of the isotope exchange indicates that framework oxygen atoms are involved in the N₂O decomposition catalyzed by Fe‐ferrierite. Our study, using an Fe‐ferrierite sample with iron exclusively present as Fe^II cations accommodated in the cationic sites, shows that the mobility of framework oxygen atoms in the temperature range: 553 to 593 K is limited to the four framework oxygen atoms of the two AlO₄^? tetrahedra forming cationic sites that accomodate Fe^II. They exchange with the Fe extra‐framework ¹⁸O atom originating from the decomposed N₂¹⁸O. We found, using DFT calculations, that O₂ molecules facilitate the oxygen exchange. However, the corresponding calculated energy barrier of 87 kcal mol^?1 is still very high and it is higher than the assumed experimental value based on the occurrence of the sluggish oxygen exchange at 553 K.     

ChemInform Abstract: Van Hove Function for Diffusion in Zeolites.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.     

Preferred Hydrogen Adsorption Sites in Various MOFs—A Comparative Computational Study

Force‐field based grand‐canonical Monte Carlo simulations are employed to predict the hydrogen adsorption properties of seven structurally different MOFs. The performance of different parameter sets is assessed by comparison with experimental data, and the capabilities and limitations of the methodology are critically discussed, with a particular emphasis on systems with unsaturated metal sites. In addition to adsorption isotherms and isosteric heats of adsorption, the preferred adsorption sites are obtained from a detailed analysis of the calculated hydrogen density fields. Where possible, these positions are compared to the results of neutron diffraction experiments. This study highlights the capabilities of computational methods to identify the structural features which are most favourable for hydrogen adsorption, providing valuable implications for the synthesis of novel MOFs.     

Determination of Electronic Recombination Free Energy in Zeolites: Effects of the Charge Balancing Cation and Confinement

The adsorption of DPH in M_6.6ZSM-5 (M=Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺), RbFER and RbMOR channel zeolites takes place without chemical or structural modification. After photoexcitation of these systems, a radical cation–electron pair is observed and has a sufficiently long lifetime to be studied by diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy. The study of the recombination of this radical cation-electron pair was carried out at different temperatures and allowed the determination of the activation energy as a function of the nature of the charge-balancing cation but also of the confinement effect. It appears that the activation energy decreases progressively from Na⁺ to Cs⁺ but also when the confinement decreases. To go further, the free enthalpies have been calculated from the Marcus theory demonstrating experimentally that these systems are located in the inverted Marcus region.     

Effects of Spatial Constraints and Brønsted Acid Site Locations on para‐Terphenyl Ionization and Charge Transfer in Zeolites

The locations of Brønsted acid sites (BAS) in the channels of medium‐pore zeolites have a significant effect on the spontaneous ionization of para‐terphenyl (PP₃) insofar as spatial constraints determine the stability of transition states and charge‐transfer complexes relevant to charge separation. The ionization rates and ionization yield values demonstrate that a strong synergy exists between the H⁺ polarization energy and spatial constraints imposed by the channel topology. Spectroscopic and modeling results show that PP₃ incorporation, charge separation, charge transfer and charge recombination differ dramatically among zeolites with respect to channel structure (H‐FER, H‐MFI, H‐MOR) and BAS density in the channel. Compartmentalization of ejected electrons away from the initial site of ionization decreases dramatically the propensity for charge recombination. The main mode of PP₃^.+ decay is hole transfer to form AlO₄H^.+ ??? PP₃ charge‐transfer complexes characterized by intense absorption in the visible range. According to the nonadiabatic electron‐transfer theory, the small reorganization energy in constrained channels explains the slow hole‐transfer rate.