Low‐Temperature Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide with Gold(III) Ions Supported on Titanium Oxide

Au/TiO₂ catalysts prepared by a deposition–precipitation process and used for CO oxidation without previous calcination exhibited high, largely temperature‐independent conversions at low temperatures, with apparent activation energies of about zero. Thermal treatments, such as He at 623 K, changed the conversion–temperature characteristics to the well‐known S‐shape, with activation energies slightly below 30 kJ mol^?1. Sample characterization by XAFS and electron microscopy and a low‐temperature IR study of CO adsorption and oxidation showed that CO can be oxidized by gas‐phase O₂ at 90 K already over the freeze‐dried catalyst in the initial state that contained Au exclusively in the +3 oxidation state. CO conversion after activation in the feed at 303 K is due to Au^III‐containing sites at low temperatures, while Au⁰ dominates conversion at higher temperatures. After thermal treatments, CO conversion in the whole investigated temperature range results from sites containing exclusively Au⁰.     

Catalytic CO Oxidation by O2 Mediated by Noble‐Metal‐Free Cluster Anions Cu2VO3–5−

Catalytic CO oxidation by molecular O₂ is an important model reaction in both the condensed phase and gas‐phase studies. Available gas‐phase studies indicate that noble metal is indispensable in catalytic CO oxidation by O₂ under thermal collision conditions. Herein, we identified the first example of noble‐metal‐free heteronuclear oxide cluster catalysts, the copper–vanadium bimetallic oxide clusters Cu₂VO_3–5^? for CO oxidation by O₂. The reactions were characterized by mass spectrometry, photoelectron spectroscopy, and density functional calculations. The dynamic nature of the Cu?Cu unit in terms of the electron storage and release is the driving force to promote CO oxidation and O₂ activation during the catalysis.     

Microwave Irradiation for the Facile Synthesis of Transition‐Metal Nanoparticles (NPs) in Ionic Liquids (ILs) from Metal–Carbonyl Precursors and Ru‐, Rh‐, and Ir‐NP/IL Dispersions as Biphasic Liquid–Liquid Hydrogenation Nanocatalysts for Cyclohexene

Stable chromium, molybdenum, tungsten, manganese, rhenium, ruthenium, osmium, cobalt, rhodium, and iridium metal nanoparticles (M‐NPs) have been reproducibly obtained by facile, rapid (3 min), and energy‐saving 10 W microwave irradiation (MWI) under an argon atmosphere from their metal–carbonyl precursors [M_x(CO)_y] in the ionic liquid (IL) 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([BMIm][BF₄]). This MWI synthesis is compared to UV‐photolytic (1000 W, 15 min) or conventional thermal decomposition (180–250 °C, 6–12 h) of [M_x(CO)_y] in ILs. The MWI‐obtained nanoparticles have a very small (<5 nm) and uniform size and are prepared without any additional stabilizers or capping molecules as long‐term stable M‐NP/IL dispersions (characterization by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), transmission electron diffraction (TED), and dynamic light scattering (DLS)). The ruthenium, rhodium, or iridium nanoparticle/IL dispersions are highly active and easily recyclable catalysts for the biphasic liquid–liquid hydrogenation of cyclohexene to cyclohexane with activities of up to 522 (mol product) (mol Ru)^?1 h^?1 and 884 (mol product) (mol Rh)^?1 h^?1 and give almost quantitative conversion within 2 h at 10 bar H₂ and 90 °C. Catalyst poisoning experiments with CS₂ (0.05 equiv per Ru) suggest a heterogeneous surface catalysis of Ru‐NPs.     

Homogeneous catalysis of the water gas shift reaction by iridium carbonyl in alkaline solution

The water gas shift reaction, H₂O + CO ? H₂ + CO₂, catalyzed homogeneously by a system based on tetrairidiumdodecacarbonyl (Ir₄(CO)₁₂) in alkaline 2-ethoxyethanol/water solution was examined at moderate temperatures (90–130°C) and pressures (P_CO 0.5–2.0 atm). The catalytic reaction showed an approximate first-order dependence on base concentration and on the concentration of iridium. The catalytic cycle was shown to have a zero order dependence on the partial pressure of CO. An apparent activation energy of 10.7 kcal mol^?1 was obtained from a linear Arrhenius plot based on hydrogen production over the temperature range 90–130°C. The predominant pathway of the reaction can be explained by a mechanism in which activation of CO by nucleophilic attack of hydroxide on the metal hydride species HIr₄(CO)₁₁^? produces the dihydride species, H₂Ir₄(CO)₁₀^2? in the rate-limiting step. Subsequent reaction of this anion with H₂O gives H₂ plus HIr₄(CO)₁₁^? again. The complex Ir₈(CO)₂₀^2? is shown to be a catalytically poor component of the solution. The system has also been shown to be active toward the decomposition of formate. This pathway however, is concluded to make an insignificant contribution to the catalysis rate under water gas shift reaction conditions.     

Preparing of Iridium Oxide Film Modified Microelectrode as an Amperometric Detector in FIA for Determination of Epinephrine

Abstract

Iridium oxide film modified microelectrode with a tip diameter of 25 µm was constructed using anodically grown iridium oxide film. The iridium oxide film, which was formed at the tip of the iridium wire by cyclic voltammetry in dilute sulfuric acid, showed excellent catalytic activity towards the oxidation of epinephrine. The stability and electrochemical properties of iridium oxide film modified microelectrode along with catalytic oxidation of epinephrine was studied. An oxidation peak was observed at 0.28 V. The electron‐transfer number (n) was 2. The iridium oxide film modified microelectrode was used as a detector in flow injection system for determination of epinephrine. Under the optimized conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the concentration range of 1.0×10^?8 to 1.0×10^?5 mol/l for epinephrine, with a detection limit of 1.0×10^?9 mol/l. The iridium oxide film modified microelectrode was used for direct determination of the epinephrine in human serum samples. The flow injection analysis was precise detection method of epinephrine and time saving device.     

Enhanced low-temperature CO oxidation on a stepped platinum surface for oxygen pressures above 10(-5) Torr

The rate of CO oxidation has been characterized on the stepped Pt(411) surface for oxygen pressures up to 0.002 Torr, over the 100-1000 K temperature range. CO oxidation was characterized using both temperature-programmed reaction spectroscopy (TPRS) and in situ soft X-ray fluorescence yield near-edge spectroscopy (FYNES). New understanding of the important role surface defects play in accelerating CO oxidation for oxygen pressure above 10(-5) Torr is presented in this paper for the first time. For saturated monolayers of CO, the oxidation rate increases and the activation energy decreases significantly for oxygen pressures above 10(-5) Torr. This enhanced CO oxidation rate is caused by a change in the rate-limiting step to a surface reaction limited process above 10(-5) Torr oxygen from a CO desorption limited process at lower oxygen pressure. For example, in oxygen pressures above 0.002 Torr, CO(2) formation begins at 275 K even for the CO saturated monolayer, which is well below the 350 K onset temperature for CO desorption. Isothermal kinetic measurements in flowing oxygen for this stepped surface indicate that activation energies and preexponential factors depend strongly on oxygen pressure, a factor that has not previously been considered critical for CO oxidation on platinum. As oxygen pressure is increased from 10(-6) to 0.002 Torr, the oxidation activation energies for the saturated CO monolayer decrease from 24.1 to 13.5 kcal/mol for reaction over the 0.95-0.90 ML CO coverage range. This dramatic decrease in activation energy is associated with a simple increase in oxygen pressure from 10(-5) to 10(-3) Torr. Activation energies as low as 7.8 kcal/mol were observed for oxidation of an initially saturated CO layer reacting over the 0.4-0.25 ML coverage range in oxygen pressure of 0.002 Torr. These dramatic changes in reaction mechanism with oxygen pressure for stepped surfaces are consistent with mechanistic models involving transient low activation energy dissociation sites for oxygen associated with step sites. Taken together these experimental results clearly indicate that surface defects play a key role in increasing the sensitivity of CO oxidation to oxygen pressure.     

Noble‐Metal‐Free Single‐Atom Catalysts CuAl4O7–9− for CO Oxidation by O2

The single copper atom doped clusters CuAl₄O_7–9^? can catalyze CO oxidation by O₂. The CuAl₄O_7–9^? clusters are the first group of experimentally identified noble‐metal free single atom catalysts for such a prototypical reaction. The reactions were characterized by mass spectrometry and density functional theory calculations. The CuAl₄O₉CO^? is much more reactive than CuAl₄O₉^? in the reaction with CO to generate CO₂. One adsorbed CO is crucial to stabilize Cu of CuAl₄O₉^? around +I oxidation state and promote the oxidation of another CO. The widely emphasized correlation between the catalytic reactivity of CO oxidation and Cu oxidation state can be understood at the strictly molecular level. The remarkable difference between Cu catalysis and noble‐metal catalysis was discussed.     

A DFT study of DMC formation on Rh‐doped Cu/AC surfaces

The activity and selectivity of heterogeneous catalysts can be significantly improved by dispersion of another active component in the metal substrate. The impact of Rh promoter on the formation of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) via oxidative carbonylation of methanol on Cu–Rh/AC (activated carbon) catalyst was investigated by density functional theory calculations. The most stable configurations of reacting species (CO, OH, CH₃O, monomethyl carbonate, and DMC) adsorbed on the Cu⁰(zero‐valent copper)/AC and Cu–Rh/AC surfaces were determined on the basis of the calculated results. The reaction energy and activation energy of the rate‐limiting steps on the Cu–Rh/AC and Cu⁰/AC surfaces were compared. The activation energies of the rate‐limiting step of CO insertion into dimethoxide are 206.3 and 304.8 kJ mol^?1 on the Cu–Rh/AC and Cu⁰/AC surfaces, respectively. The activation energies of the rate‐limiting step of CO insertion into methoxide are 78.5 and 92.7 kJ/mol on the Cu–Rh/AC and Cu⁰/AC surfaces, respectively. The calculated results indicate that the addition of Rh atom has a significant effect on decreasing the active energy the main pathway for DMC formation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Catalytically Active Rh Sub‐Nanoclusters on TiO2 for CO Oxidation at Cryogenic Temperatures

The discovery that gold catalysts could be active for CO oxidation at cryogenic temperatures has ignited much excitement in nanocatalysis. Whether the alternative Pt group metal (PGM) catalysts can exhibit such high performance is an interesting research issue. So far, no PGM catalyst shows activity for CO oxidation at cryogenic temperatures. In this work, we report a sub‐nano Rh/TiO₂ catalyst that can completely convert CO at 223 K. This catalyst exhibits at least three orders of magnitude higher turnover frequency (TOF) than the best Rh‐based catalysts and comparable to the well‐known Au/TiO₂ for CO oxidation. The specific size range of 0.4–0.8 nm Rh clusters is critical to the facile activation of O₂ over the Rh–TiO₂ interface in a form of Rh?O?O?Ti (superoxide). This superoxide is ready to react with the CO adsorbed on TiO₂ sites at cryogenic temperatures.     

Kinetics of isothermal oxidation of WC–20Co hot-pressed compacts in air

The present paper presents an isothermal analysis of the oxidation behavior in which hot-pressed compacts rather than powders are used over the temperature range 700–850 °C. This was done to better simulate the extent of oxidation occurring on use. WC–Co powders were first subjected to non-isothermal kinetic analysis to follow the oxidation mechanism. In the isothermal runs, a thermobalance was used to follow up the mass with time at different constant temperatures. The diameter of compacts was measured as function of time at these temperatures, and a simple model was proposed to relate the diameters to extent of oxidation. Two reactions were found to take place that are controlled by chemical reaction at interface: Oxidation of cobalt and oxidation of WC with the formation of WO₃ and CoWO₄. The activation energies for the two steps of oxidation were calculated and found to equal 157 kJ mol^?1 and 205 kJ mol^?1, respectively. These values are in reasonable agreement with published data for WC–Co powders.     

Temperature dependence of the rate constants for reactions of the carbonate radical with organic and inorganic reductants

Rate constants have been measured by pulse radiolysis for the reactions of the carbonate radical, CO₃^·?, with a number of organic and inorganic reactants as a function of temperature, generally over the range 5 to 80°C. The reactants include the substitution-inert cyano complexes of Fe^II, Mo^IV, and W^IV, the simple inorganic anions SO₃^2?, ClO₂^?, NO₂^?, I^?, and SCN^?, several phenolates, ascorbate, tryptophan, cysteine, cystine, methionine, triethylamine, and allyl alcohol. The measured rate constants ranged from less than 10⁵ to 3 × 10⁹ M^?1 s^?1, the activation energies ranged from ?11.4 to 18.8 kJ mol^?1, and the pre-exponential factors ranged from log A = 6.4 to 10.7. The activation energies for the metal complexes and inorganic anions generally decrease with increasing driving force for the reaction, as expected for an outer sphere electron transfer. For highly exothermic reactions, however, the activation energy appears to increase, probably reflecting the temperature dependence of diffusion. For many of the organic reactants, the activation energies were low and independent of driving force, suggesting that the oxidation is via an inner sphere mechanism.     

Kinetics of thermal gas‐phase decomposition of 2‐bromopropene using static system

The gas phase elimination kinetics of 2‐bromopropene was studied over the temperature range of 571–654 K and pressure range of 12–46 Torr using the seasoned static reaction system. Propyne was the only olefinic product formed and accounted for >98% of the reaction. This product was formed by homogeneous, unimolecular pathways with high‐pressure first‐order rate constant k_∞ given by the equation k_∞ = 10^{13.47 ± 0.6} exp^{?208.2 ± 6.7} (kJ mol^?1)/RT. The error limits are 95% certainty limits. The observed Arrhenius parameters are consistent with the four centered activated complex. The presence of methyl group on α‐carbon lowers the activation energy by 41 kJ mol^?1. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 39: 1–5, 2007     

Theoretical Insights into the Mechanism of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Release from CO‐Releasing Molecules

We used density functional theory to investigate the capacity for carbon monoxide (CO) release of five newly synthesized manganese‐containing CO‐releasing molecules (CO‐RMs), namely CORM‐368 ( 1 ), CORM‐401 ( 2 ), CORM‐371 ( 3 ), CORM‐409 ( 4 ), and CORM‐313 ( 5 ). The results correctly discriminated good CO releasers ( 1 and 2 ) from a compound unable to release CO ( 5 ). The predicted Mn? CO bond dissociation energies were well correlated (R²≈0.9) with myoglobin (Mb) assay experiments, which quantified the formation of MbCO, and thus the amount of CO released by the CO‐RMs. The nature of the Mn? CO bond was characterized by natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. This allowed us to identify the key donor–acceptor interactions in the CO‐RMs, and to evaluate the Mn? CO bond stabilization energies. According to the NBO calculations, the charge transfer is the major source of Mn? CO bond stabilization for this series. On the basis of the nature of the experimental buffers, we then analyzed the nucleophilic attack of putative ligands (L′=HPO₄^2?, H₂PO₄^?, H₂O, and Cl^?) at the metal vacant site through the ligand‐exchange reaction energies. The analysis revealed that different L′‐exchange reactions were spontaneous in all the CO‐RMs. Finally, the calculated second dissociation energies could explain the stoichiometry obtained with the Mb assay experiments.     

Biological Effect,Aquation, and Kinetics of Oxidation of Bis(2‐aminobenzothiazole)dichlorocobalt(II) Complex by Periodate in Aqueous Acidic Medium

The biological effect, aquation, and kinetics of oxidation of bis(2‐aminobenzothiazole)dichlorocobalt(II) complex by periodate in aqueous acidic solutions were studied. The complex exhibited a broad resistance toward the studied pathogens. The average value of the aquation constant was calculated spectrophotometrically as 2.55 × 10^?5 mol² dm^?6. Kinetics of the oxidation reaction showed first‐order dependence on each reactant concentration and increased by increasing pH over the 3.80–4.80 range, 35–50°C, and decreased by increasing the ionic strength over the 0.1–0.5 mol dm^?3 range. The polymerization of acrylonitrile was taken as an evidence for an inner‐sphere mechanism through the formation of free radical intermediates of Co(III) complexes, which were slowly converted to the final Co(III)products.     

Superionic Conduction over a Wide Temperature Range in a Metal–Organic Framework Impregnated with Ionic Liquids

Most molecules in confined spaces show markedly different behaviors from those in the bulk. Large pores are composed of two regions: an interface region in which liquids interact with the pore surface, and a core region in which liquids behave as bulk. The realization of a highly mobile ionic liquid (IL) in a mesoporous metal–organic framework (MOF) is now reported. The hybrid shows a high room‐temperature conductivity (4.4×10^?3 S cm^?1) and low activation energy (0.20 eV); both not only are among the best values reported for IL‐incorporated MOFs but also are classified as a superionic conductor. The conductivity reaches over 10^?2 S cm^?1 above 343 K and follows the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann equation up to ca. 400 K. In particular, the hybrid is advantageous at low temperatures (<263 K), where the ionic conduction is superior to that of bulk IL, making it useful as solid‐state electrolytes for electrochemical devices operating over a wide temperature range.     

Tuning the Adsorption Energy of Methanol Molecules Along Ni‐N‐Doped Carbon Phase Boundaries by the Mott–Schottky Effect for Gas‐Phase Methanol Dehydrogenation

Engineering the adsorption of molecules on active sites is an integral and challenging part for the design of highly efficient transition‐metal‐based catalysts for methanol dehydrogenation. A Mott–Schottky catalyst composed of Ni nanoparticles and tailorable nitrogen‐doped carbon‐foam (Ni/NCF) and thus tunable adsorption energy is presented for highly efficient and selective dehydrogenation of gas‐phase methanol to hydrogen and CO even under relatively high weight hourly space velocities (WHSV). Both theoretical and experimental results reveal the key role of the rectifying contact at the Ni/NCF boundaries in tailoring the electron density of Ni species and enhancing the absorption energies of methanol molecules, which leads to a remarkably high turnover frequency (TOF) value (356 mol methanol mol^?1 Ni h^?1 at 350 °C), outpacing previously reported bench‐marked transition‐metal catalysts 10‐fold.     

Trace Analysis of Al (III) Ions Based on the Redox Current of a Conducting Polymer

A conducting polymer was electrochemically prepared on a Pt electrode with newly synthesized 3′‐(4‐formyl‐3‐hydroxy‐1‐phenyl)‐5,2′ : 5′,2″‐terthiophene (FHPT) in a 0.1 M TBAP/CH₂Cl₂ solution. The polymer‐modified electrode exhibited a response to proton and metal ions, especially Al(III) ions. The poly[FHPT] was characterized with cyclic voltammetry, EQCM, and applied to the analysis of trace levels of Al(III) ions. Experimental parameters affecting the response of the poly[FHPT] were investigated and optimized. Other metal ions in low concentration did not interfere with the analysis of Al(III) ions in a buffer solution at pH 7.4. The response was linear over the concentration range of 5.0×10^?8–7.0×10^?10 M, and the detection limit was 5.0×10^?10 M using the linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). Employing the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), the response was linear over the 1.0×10^?9–5.0×10^?11 M range and the detection limit was 3.0×10^?11 M. The relative standard deviation at 5.0×10^?11 M was 7.2% (n=5) in DPV. This analytical method was successfully verified for the analysis of trace amounts of Al(III) ions in a human urine sample.     

Transformation of a Cp*–Iridium(III) Precatalyst for Water Oxidation when Exposed to Oxidative Stress

The reaction of [Cp*Ir(bzpy)NO₃] ( 1 ; bzpy=2‐benzoylpyridine, Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl anion), a competent water‐oxidation catalyst, with several oxidants (H₂O₂, NaIO₄, cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN)) was studied to intercept and characterize possible intermediates of the oxidative transformation. NMR spectroscopy and ESI‐MS techniques provided evidence for the formation of many species that all had the intact Ir–bzpy moiety and a gradually more oxidized Cp* ligand. Initially, an oxygen atom is trapped in between two carbon atoms of Cp* and iridium, which gives an oxygen–Ir coordinated epoxide, whereas the remaining three carbon atoms of Cp* are involved in a η³ interaction with iridium ( 2 a ). Formal addition of H₂O to 2 a or H₂O₂ to 1 leads to 2 b , in which a double MeCOH functionalization of Cp* is present with one MeCOH engaged in an interaction with iridium. The structure of 2 b was unambiguously determined in the solid state and in solution by X‐ray single‐crystal diffractometry and advanced NMR spectroscopic techniques, respectively. Further oxidation led to the opening of Cp* and transformation of the diol into a diketone with one carbonyl coordinated at the metal ( 2 c ). A η³ interaction between the three non‐oxygenated carbons of “ex‐Cp*” and iridium is also present in both 2 b and 2 c . Isolated 2 b and mixtures of 2 a – c species were tested in water‐oxidation catalysis by using CAN as sacrificial oxidant. They showed substantially the same activity than 1 (turnover frequency values ranged from 9 to 14 min^?1).     

Electrochemical Characterization of Epigallocatechin Gallate Using Square‐Wave Voltammetry

Electrochemical oxidation of (?)‐epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the main monomer flavanol found in green tea, has been investigated over a wide pH range at a glassy‐carbon electrode using square‐wave voltammetry (SWV). Square‐wave voltammograms of (?)‐epigallocatechin (EGC) and gallic acid have been studied as well. The I–E profile of EGCG, i.e. the oxidation potentials and the current responses of the first and the second peak, is pH dependent. The oxidation of EGCG is a quasireversible process over the studied pH range, which was also confirmed by the non‐linear relationship between the peak currents and squre root of frequency. The best SWV responses for EGCG were obtained at pH 2.0, frequency of 100 Hz, step of 2 mV and amplitude of 50 mV. Under these conditions, linear responses for EGCG were obtained for concentrations from 1×10^?7 M to 1×10^?6 M, and calculated LOD and LOQ for the first oxidation peak were 6.59×10^?8 M and 2.19×10^?7 M, respectively. The proposed electroanalytical procedure was applied for the determination of EGCG content in green tea. Developed SWV methodology represents a potential analytical tool in determination of catechins in tea samples.     

Graphite Electrode Coated with a 7,16‐Dibenzyl‐1,4,10,13‐tetraoxa‐7,16‐diazacyclooctadecane‐Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Composite as Sensor For Detection of Samarium

A composite multiwalled carbon nanotube polyvinyl chloride electrode based on 7,16‐dibenzyl‐1,4,10,13‐tetraoxa‐7,16‐diazacyclooctadecane (DBDA18C6) as Sm³⁺ ionophore is reported. This potentiometric sensor showed a wide linear working range, 1×10^?2–1×10^?8 M, Nernstian slope, 20.2±0.48 mV per decade and a limit of detection, 6.3±0.36×10^?9 M. It works in the pH range 2.5–8.5 and shows a good selectivity over a number of metal ions. It has been found suitable for the analysis of ores and industrial effluents. The electrode surface is characterized by FRA and AFM.