Photo-promoted carbonylation of chloroalkanes with carbon monoxide by non-precious metal catalysts

The photo-promoted carbonylation of chloroalkanes with carbon monoxide was carried out under ambient conditions with copper and cadmium salts catalysts. The results indicated that the corresponding esters were produced with three salt catalysts, i.e. CuBr2, CuCl2 and CdI2. Among these catalysts, CdI2 was the most efficient in terms of ester yield and selectivity, particularly, 60% yield and 75% selectivity in the carbonylation of chlorocyclohexane were achieved. Furthermore, the yield and selectivity of the ester can be improved greatly by adding tri-n-butylamine in the CuBr2 and CuCl2 catalyst systems. On the other hand, the carbonylation did not proceed with single CdCl2, however, the catalytic activity of CdCl2 was increased greatly with NaIá2H2O as additive. As a result, we suggest that iodide ion plays an important role in the catalyst system of the cadmium salts.     

Epoxy-amine composites with ultralow concentrations of single-layer carbon nanotubes

The physical and mechanical properties of composite materials based on epoxy-amine systems—diglycidyl ether of diphenylolpropane-eutectic mixture of aromatic amines (40 wt % m-phenylenediamine-60 wt % 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane) and epoxy-diane resin ED-20-eutectic mixture of aromatic diamines with ultralow contents (≤0.1 wt %) of single-layer carbon nanotubes—are studied. It is shown that, for the concentration dependence of the modulus of elasticity during tension, the additivity rule is obeyed only at the lowest concentrations of carbon nanotubes. In this case, the presence of near-surface layers of a matrix with an increased elastic modulus should be considered.     

Oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane with carbon dioxide over sulfated zirconia supported metal oxides catalysts

Several metal oxides supported on sulfated zirconia catalysts were tested for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane into ethylene by carbon dioxide. It is found that the catalytic behavior of supported oxide catalysts differ depending on the nature of metal oxides. Chromium oxide-sulfated zirconia exhibits the highest ethane conversion and medium level of ethylene selectivity, producing 38% ethylene yield at 50% ethane conversion at 650°C.     

Dehydrogenation of cycloalkanes over noble metal catalysts supported on active carbon

Dehydrogenation of decalin to naphthalene through tetralin and that of dicyclohexyl to biphenyl through phenylcyclohexane with Pt/C and Pd/C was investigated mainly under the liquid film state, in which the catalyst was just wet but not suspended and covered with a thin film of liquid substrate. To improve the catalytic activities, the effects of the addition of tellurium into Pd/C were investigated to reveal that the combination of tellurium, palladium and conjugated systems produced during the dehydrogenation of cycloalkames was important to the improvement of the activities.     

A growth mechanism for carbon nanotubes using metal oxides as catalysts

Metal oxides have only recently begun to be used as catalysts for the growth of carbon nanotubes. Here, we propose a new model for the growth of carbon nanotubes, based on the intra‐granular charge transfer transition and the lattice strain of the catalyst nanoparticles. This is supported by results obtained from the doped metal oxides like samarium doped zinc oxide (SmZnO) and terbium doped zinc oxide (TbZnO). The intragranular charge transfer transition is believed to be responsible for the dissociation of the hydrocarbon molecules. The lattice strain of the catalyst nanoparticles appears to be responsible for the diffusion of carbon atoms through the catalyst particles.     

Catalytic decomposition of methylene chloride on oxidative carbon supported metal oxide catalysts

Several carbon supported chromium oxide catalysts were prepared by varying textural and surface properties of support and tested for methylene chloride oxidation. They were investigated by TGA and XPS. The difference in acidity and high valence of chromium led to difference in activity. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Tetravalent metal complexes as a new family of catalysts for copolymerization of epoxides with carbon dioxide

New tetravalent metal complexes with a trianionic [ONNO]-tetradentate ligand and an ancillary chloride ligand were synthesized as catalysts for the copolymerization of epoxides with carbon dioxide (CO(2)). All of the titanium, zirconium, germanium, and tin complexes were found to copolymerize epoxides with CO(2). In particular, the copolymerization of propylene oxide with CO(2) gave the almost-completely alternating copolymers by using titanium or germanium complexes. These results are the first example of the copolymerization using tetravalent metal complexes as a main component of catalysts.     

Recent advances in metal catalysts with hybrid ligands

This review summarises some recent developments of the metal complexes of hetero-functional hybrid ligands of C-, N-, O-, P- and S-donors. It highlights the ligand designs, synthetic pathways, structural motifs and catalytic prowess of these complexes.     

The role of carbon dioxide in chemoselective hydrogenation of halonitroaromatics over supported noble metal catalysts in supercritical carbon dioxide

Chemoselective hydrogenation of halogenated nitrobenzenes over Pt/C catalysts proceeds effectively in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) to produce halogenated anilines with excellent selectivity; the rate of the hydrogenation of nitro groups is markedly enhanced in scCO2 compared to the neat reaction, and the dehalogenation reaction is significantly suppressed.     

Atom-trapping absorption spectrometry with water-cooled metal collector tubes

Water-cooled metal collector tubes for atom-trapping atomic absorption spectrometry in air—acetylene flames are discussed, particularly for the more volatile elements such as cadmium and selenium which may be less efficiently trapped at the hotter surface of a silica tube. It was found that a nickel tube gave 3 times greater sensitivity than silica for the determination of cadmium but was oniy half as sensitive for the determination of selenium. No atomic absorption signal for copper could be obtained with a nickel collector tube. A copper tube was 3–4 times more sensitive than nickel for cadmium and selenium. Similar effects were observed for cadmium solutions containing 1000 ppm copper or nickel, and for selenium solutions containing 1000 ppm copper, with silica atom-trap tubes, but in both cases better results were obtained when the analyte solution of cadmium or selenium contained the co-element (1000 ppm) than when the cadmium or selenium was measured with a silica tube previously metallized with the co-element.     

Supported metal catalysts based on fibrous carbon material for low-temperature CO oxidation

A number of supported-metal (Pt, Pd) catalysts based on Karbopon nonwoven carbon fibers were prepared by deposition from hydrosols and by ion exchange. The catalytic activity of the catalysts in low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide by atmospheric oxygen was determined. Catalyst samples were studied by transmission electron microscopy.     

Organic functionalization of metal catalysts: Enhanced activity towards electroreduction of carbon dioxide

Electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide has been attracting extensive interest due to its fundamental significance both in environmental protection and in energy storage. In this review, recent progress in the manipulation of the catalytic activity and selectivity of various transition metals towards CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) is summarized within the context of deliberate surface functionalization by select organic ligands. This is primarily manifested in three effects, interfacial charge transfer, suppression of hydrogen evolution, and stabilization of key reaction intermediates. The review is concluded with a perspective of the challenges and promises in the structural engineering of metal catalysts for enhanced CO₂RR performance.     

Ignition temperatures of carbon samples containing metal oxide catalysts by a DTA method

The variation of the ignition temperature of a carbon black impregnated with various amounts of manganese oxide and uranium oxide has been measured by a DTA method. The technique allows a rapid assessment to be made of sample reactivity and only small amounts (approximately 5 mg) are required. Correlation of sample reactivity by ignition temperature measurement and isothermal weight-loss data is shown.     

Finned Zn-MFI zeolite encapsulated noble metal nanoparticle catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with carbon dioxide

Oxidative dehydrogenation of propane with carbon dioxide(CO₂-ODP) characterizes the tandem dehydrogenation of propane to propylene with the reduction of the greenhouse gas of CO₂ to valuable CO.However, the existing catalyst is limited due to the poor activity and stability, which hinders its industrialization. Herein, we design the finned Zn-MFI zeolite encapsulated noble metal nanoparticles(NPs)as bifunctional catalysts(NPs@Zn-MFI) for CO₂-ODP. Characterization...     

Hydrogenation of imino bonds with half-sandwich metal catalysts

Imines can be reduced to afford synthetically important amines via a number of means, of which half-sandwich metal complex-effected reduction has gained particular prominence in the past one decade or so. This Feature Article aims to summarise the progress made with such metal catalysts, placing emphasis on our own work. The article covers transfer hydrogenation and hydrogenation, and finishes with a brief account of catalyst immobilisation and mechanistic understanding.     

Size control of metal nanoparticle catalysts for the gas-phase synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Nanoparticle catalysts are essential and indispensable for all syntheses of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). We have prepared size-controlled Co, Co-Mo, and Fe-Mo nanoparticles by the reversed micelle method as the catalysts for the gas-phase pyrolytic synthesis of SWCNTs. From the investigation of the relation between the sizes of the nanoparticles and the alkyl-chain lengths of the cationic surfactants, dialkyldimethylammonium bromides, it has been found that the alkyl groups of the surfactants could play a role in controlling the sizes of the nanoparticles and that the alkyl chain of the surfactant should be preferably less than 10 carbon atoms at most to prepare smaller-size nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution. The reduction of the particle size increases the number of nanoparticles in the colloidal solution and leads to a higher yield of SWCNTs.