Lithium promoted Pt?Sn/Al2O3 catalysts for dehydrogenation ofn-decane: Influence of lithium metal precursors

Four lithium metal precursors (LiNO₃, CH₃COOLi, LiOH, LiCl) have been used as promoters in Pt–Sn/Al₂O₃ catalysts to improve activity, selectivity and stability in a modeln-decane dehydrogenation reaction. Acidity, TPR and TPCO measurements have shown that the precursors affect the acid site distribution in the support, modify the reducibility and dispersity of Pt–Sn active species, coke lay-over patterns, stability and also selectivity for formation of monoolefins in the dehydrogenation ofn-decane.     

Highly Dispersed and Stable Supported Metal Catalysts Prepared by Solid Phase Crystallization Method

Starting from the precursors containing active metal species in the crystal structure, highly dispersed supported metal catalysts have been prepared by the calcination-reduction treatment. This method is named as solid phase crystallization (spc) method and was compared with the conventional impregnation (imp) method. As the precursors, both perovskite-type and hydrotalcite-type oxides have been utilized for preparing various supported metal catalysts, which were successfully applied for the reforming of CH₄ and the decomposition of methanol. Especially spc-Ni/Mg–Al catalyst prepared from the hydrotalcite-type precursors showed high activity as well as high sustainability for the hydrogen production from methane.     

Synthesis of nonequilibrium Ir<Subscript>x</Subscript>Re<Subscript>1-x</Subscript> solid solutions. Crystal structure of [Ir(NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>5</Subscript>Cl]<Subscript>2</Subscript>[ReCl<Subscript>6</Subscript>]Cl<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Synthesis of five binary complex salts with an [Ir(NH₃)₅Cl]²⁺ complex cation is described. The counterions are [ReCl₆]^2–, [IrCl₆]^2–, [ReBr₆]^2–, and Cl^–. A polycrystal X-ray diffraction study has been performed for [Ir(NH₃)₅Cl]₂[ReCl₆]Cl₂, and its crystal structure has been determined. A series of Ir _x Re_1–x phases (0.5 x > 1) were obtained by reductive thermolysis. For the Ir-Re system, the history of the V/Z(x) dependence has been refined.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by S. A. Gromilov, S. V. Korenev, I. V. Korolkov, K. V. Yusenko, and I. A. BaidinaTranslated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 45, No. 3, pp. 508–515, May–June 2004.     

Fabrication of a novel Li<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript>MoO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">y</Emphasis></Subscript> film modified electrode and its application as an electrochemical sensor of iodate

A novel organic gel film modified electrode was simply and conveniently fabricated by casting Li_xMoO_y and polypropylene carbonate (PPC) onto the surface of a gold electrode. The cyclic voltammetry and amperometry studies demonstrated that the Li_xMoO_y film modified electrode has a high stability and a good electrocatalytic activity for the reduction of iodate. In amperometry, a good linear relationship between the steady current and the concentration of iodate was obtained in the range from 3×10^–7 to 1×10^–4 mol L^–1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9997 and a detection limit of 1×10^–7 mol L^–1.     

Solid–liquid metastable equilibria in the quaternary system (NaCl–KCl–CaCl2–H2O) at 288.15 K

The solubilities and the physicochemical properties (densities, viscosities, refractive indices, conductivities, and pH) in the liquid–solid metastable system (NaCl–KCl–CaCl₂–H₂O) at 288.15 K have been studied using the isothermal evaporation method. Based on the experimental data, the dry-salt phase diagram, water-phase diagram and the diagram of physicochemical properties vs. composition in the system were plotted. The dry-salt phase diagram of the system includes one three-salt co-saturated point, three metastable solubility isotherm curves, and three crystallization regions corresponding to sodium chloride, potassium chloride and calcium chloride hexahydrate. Neither solid solution nor double salts were found. Based on the extended Harvie–Weare (HW) model and its temperature-dependent equation, the values of the Pitzer parameters β⁽⁰⁾, β⁽¹⁾, C for NaCl, KCl and CaCl₂, the mixed ion-interaction parameters θ_Na,K, θ_Na,Ca, θ_K,Ca, Ψ_Na,K,Cl, Ψ_Na,Ca,Cl, Ψ_K,Ca,Cl, the Debye–Hückel parameter A and the standard chemical potentials of the minerals in the quaternary system at 288.15 K were obtained. In addition, the average equilibrium constants of metastable equilibrium solids at the same temperature were obtained using a method derived from the activity product constant for the metastable system. Using the standard chemical potentials of the minerals and the average equilibrium constants of solids at equilibrium, the solubility predictions for the quaternary system are presented. A comparison between the calculated and experimental results shows that the predicted solubilities obtained with the extended HW model using the average equilibrium constants agree well with experimental data.     

New Layered Materials in the K–In–Ge–As System: K8In8Ge5As17and K5In5Ge5As14

Exploratory synthesis in the K–In–Ge–As system has yielded the unusual layered compounds K₈In₈Ge₅As₁₇(1) and K₅In₅Ge₅As₁₄(2), both of which contain In–Ge–As layers with interleaved potassium ions, Ge–Ge bonds, InAs₄tetrahedra, As–As bonds, and rows of Ge₂As₆dimers. Compound 1 has As₃groups, while compound 2 has infinite As ribbons on both faces of each layer. Unlike compound 1, compound 2 has substitutional defects where indium partially occupies each of the three independent germanium sites in the ratio of 1:5 for In:Ge. This partial occupancy makes 2 an electron-precise compound. The Ge(In)–Ge(In) bond of 2 is longer than the Ge–Ge bond of 1, and this bond lengthening effect was confirmed by performing DFT-MO calculations on the model compounds H₃Ge–GeH₃and H₃Ge–InH⁻₃. Possible implications of electron imprecise formulas determined by X-ray crystal structure determinations are discussed. Compound 1: space groupP2₁/cwitha=18.394 (8) Å,b=19.087 (7) Å,c=25.360 (3) Å,β=105.71 (2)°,V=8571 (4) ų, andD_calcd=4.45g/cm³forZ=4. Refinement on 4455 reflections yieldedR(R_w)=6.8%(7.8%). Compound 2: space groupC2/mwitha=40.00 (1) Å,b=3.925 (2) Å,c=10.299 (3),β=99.97 (2)°,V=1592 (1) ų, andD_calcd= 4.55g/cm³forZ=8. Refinement on 1206 reflections yieldedR(R_w)=5.6% (5.7%).     

Metal carbonyl catalysis of carbon monoxide and formate reactions

The water gas shift reaction (CO + H₂O = CO₂+ H₂) is catalyzed by aqueous metal carbonyl systems derived from simple mononuclear carbonyls such as Fe(CO)₅ and M(CO)₆ (M = Cr, Mo, and W) and bases in the 140–200 °C temperature range. The water gas shift reaction in a basic methanol-water solution containing Fe(CO)₅ is first order in [Fe(CO)₅], zero order in [CO], and essentially independent of base concentration and appears to involve an associative mechanism with a metallocarboxylate intermediate [(CO)₄Fe-CO₂H]^–. The water gas shift reactions using M(CO)₆ as catalyst precursors are first order in [M(CO)₆], inverse first order in [CO], and first order in [HCO₂ ^–] and appear to involve a dissociative mechanism with formatometallate intermediates [(CO)₅M-OCHO]^–.The Reppe hydroformylation of ethylene to produce propionaldehyde and 1-propanol in basic solutions containing Fe(CO)₅ occurs at 110–140 °C. This reaction is second order in [Fe(CO)₅], first order in [C₂H₄] up to a saturation pressure >1.5 MPa, and inhibited by [CO]. These experimental results suggest a mechanism where the rate-determining step involves a binuclear iron carbonyl intermediate. The substitution of Et₃N for NaOH as the base facilitates the reduction of propionaldehyde to 1-propanol but results in a slower rate for the overall reaction.The homogeneous photocatalytic decomposition of the formate ion to H₂ and CO₂ in the presence of Cr(CO)₆ appears to be closely related to the water gas shift reaction. The rate of H₂ production from the formate ion exhibits saturation kinetics in the formate ion and is inhibited by added pyridine. The infrared spectra of the catalyst solutions indicate an LCr(CO)₅ intermediate. Photolysis of the Cr(CO)₆/formate system in aqueous methanol in the presence of an aldehyde RCHO (R =n-heptyl,p-tolyl, andp-anisyl) results in catalytic hydrogenation of the aldehyde to the corresponding alcohol RCH₂OH by the formate ion. Detailed kinetic studies onp-tolualdehyde hydrogenation by this method indicates saturation kinetics in formate ion, autoinhibition by thep-tolualdehyde, and a threshold effect for Cr(CO)₆ at concentrations >0.004 mol L^–1. The presence of an aldehyde can interrupt the water gas shift catalytic cycle by interception of an HCr(CO)₅ ^– intermediate by the aldehyde.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1533–1539, September, 1994.     

Use of ICP and XAS to determine the enhancement of gold phytoextraction by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chilopsis linearis</Emphasis> using thiocyanate as a complexing agent

Under natural conditions gold has low solubility that reduces its bioavailability, a critical factor for phytoextraction. Researchers have found that phytoextraction can be improved by using synthetic chelating agents. Preliminary studies have shown that desert willow (Chilopsis linearis), a common inhabitant of the Chihuahuan Desert, is able to extract gold from a gold-enriched medium. The objective of the present study was to determine the ability of thiocyanate to enhance the gold-uptake capacity of C. linearis. Seedlings of this plant were exposed to the following hydroponics treatment: (1) 5 mg Au L^–1 (2.5×10^–5 mol L^–1), (2) 5 mg Au L^–1+10^–5 mol L^–1 NH₄SCN, (3) 5 mg Au L^–1+5×10^–5 mol L^–1 NH₄SCN, and (4) 5 mg Au L^–1+10^–4 mol L^–1 NH₄SCN. Each treatment had its respective control. After 2 weeks we determined the effect of the treatment on plant growth and gold content by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP–OES). No signs of shoot-growth inhibition were observed at any NH₄SCN treatment level. The ICP–OES analysis showed that addition of 10^–4 mol L^–1 NH₄SCN increased the concentration of gold by about 595, 396, and 467% in roots, stems, and leaves, respectively. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies showed that the oxidation state of gold was Au(0) and that gold nanoparticles were formed inside the plants.     

Effects of ionization on the phase behavior of poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) and poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-diethylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) in water

Phase transitions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PiPA-AA) and poly(N,N- diethylacrylamide-co-acrylic acid) (PdEA-AA) in water have been investigated by means of turbidimetry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The phase transition temperatures (T_p) of these copolymers increase with the degree of ionization () of the acrylic acid (AA) units, which in turn is dependent on the pH of the solutions. Apparent values of pK_a for the AA units, determined from the pH dependencies of T_p, are 4.7 and 5.4 for PiPA-AA and PdEA-AA, respectively. Differences between T_p for PiPA-AA and T_p for PiPA homopolymer (T_p) are +1.5 and –0.2 °C/mol% of AA at =1 and 0, respectively. The values of T_p for PdEA-AA are +2.6 (ionic) and –0.5 (nonionic)°C/mol%, indicating that the incorporated AA units have a larger effect on PdEA than on PiPA. DSC measurements performed with each of these copolymers at different pH values show a linear relationship between T_p and the enthalpy of transition (H). IR measurements of PiPA-AA show that the profiles of IR bands from both iPA and AA units exhibit critical changes at T_p of the copolymer. Heating the solution above T_p leads to shifts of the amide II, C–H stretch, and C–H bend bands from the iPA units toward lower wavenumbers, as well as a shift of the amide I band from the iPA units toward higher wavenumbers. A decrease in the intensity of the symmetric C=O stretch IR band from carboxylate anions (1560 cm^–1), and an increase in the intensity of the C=O stretch band from COOH groups (1705 cm^–1) suggest that a partial protonation of the carboxylate groups (COO^–+H⁺COOH) takes place upon the phase transition.     

The O–H···O, O–H···N and C–H···O hydrogen bonds in 1,4-dimethylpiperazine mono-betaine monohydrate

1,4-Dimethylpiperazine mono-betaine (1-carboxymethyl-1,4-dimethylpiperazinium inner salt, MBPZ) crystallizes as monohydrate. The crystals are orthorhombic, space group Pccn. Two MBPZ molecules and two water molecules form a cyclic oligomer, (MBPZ·H₂O)₂. The O–H···O and O–H···N hydrogen bonds are of 2.769(1) and 2.902(1) Å, respectively. The dimers interact with the neighboring molecules through the C–H···O hydrogen bonds of 3.234(1) Å. The piperazine ring assumes a chair conformation with the N(4)–CH₃ and N⁺(1)–CH₂COO⁻ groups in the equatorial position and the N⁺(1)–CH₃ group in the axial one. The FTIR spectrum is compared with that calculated by the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of theory.     

On the Possibility of Using Protonic Solid Electrolyte CsHSO<Subscript>4</Subscript> in Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Electrochemical parameters of an H₂|air fuel cell with a membrane of solid electrolyte CsHSO₄ or composites (1 − x)CsHSO₄/xSiO₂ (x = 0.1–0.3) and different electrodes are measured at 175 °C. The maximal power (3.5 mW/cm² at a voltage of 0.6 V) is obtained for a cell with platinum-black electrodes and an intermediate layer of a mixture of platinum black and the electrolyte material. In the absence of a platinum catalyst, CsHSO₄ and composites CsHSO₄/SiO₂ are chemically stable in hydrogen at the operating temperature of the fuel cell.__________Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 41, No. 5, 2005, pp. 556–559.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Lavrova, Russkikh, Ponomareva, Uvarov.     

(π-Cyclopentenyl)(π-cyclopentadienyl)nickel: A novel catalyst for the conversion of ethylene to 1-butene and n-hexenes

(π-Cyclopentenyl)(π-cyclopentadienyl)nickel, (h⁵-C₅H₅)Ni(h³-C₅H₇), is a novel, highly active, unicomponent catalyst for the conversion of ethylene to n-butenes and n-hexenes at 145–150° C. At high conversions of ethylene (70–90%), the dimeric product (80–86% yield) contains a high percentage (90–82%) of 1-butene. Experimental evidence is presented which strongly indicates that the cyclopentadienyl group remains bonded to the nickel during catalysis while the cyclopentenyl group is labile. A possible mode of activation is the reversible elimination of cyclopentadiene from (h⁵-C₅H₅)N₁(h³-C₅H₇) to generate π-cyclo pentadienylnickel hydride as a catalytically active intermediate. An improved synthesis of the title compound (70% yield) by direct hydrogenation of nickelocene is also reported.     

Comparative Study of Sol-Gel and Coprecipitated Ni-Al Hydrotalcites

Hydrotalcite is an anionic clay mineral (layered double hydroxide) whose general formula is [M(II)_1–x M(III) _x (OH)₂] ^x+X _x/n ^n– ·mH₂O. Anionic clays with a hydrotalcite-type are widely used as useful precursors of multicomponent catalysts. Hydrotalcites with Ni/Al molar ratio 2.5 have been synthesised both by the coprecipitation method, starting with nickel and aluminium nitrates and by the sol-gel method, using nickel acetylacetonate and aluminium isopropylate as precursors. The NiO-Al₂O₃ oxidic forms have been obtained by the thermal treatment of the precursors at 450°C and 900°C, respectively, and were characterised by DTA, XRD, IR spectroscopy and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). TPR clearly demonstrated a higher reducibility of the oxidic forms derived from the sol-gel synthesised precursors.     

Synthesis and structure of the 2-(chlorophenylazo)pyridine chelated tricarbonylrhenium(I) complex and its anion radical derivatives <Emphasis Type="Italic">via</Emphasis> electrochemical reduction

Reacting Re(CO)₅Cl with the azopyridine ligand (1) (L) in boiling benzene afford the complex Re(CO)₃Cl(L), (2) in excellent yield [L=2-(p-Cl-C₆H₄NN)C₅H₄N]. The chelation of the azopyridine ligand accompanied by displacement of the two carbon monoxide ligands furnish a five-membered chelate ring. Structure determination of complex (2) has revealed a distorted octahedral ReC₃N₂Cl coordination sphere. The Re–N(pyridine) and, Re–N(azo) distances are 2.158(3) and 2.153(6) Å respectively, and the N–N length [1.273(4) Å], implicate relatively weak Re-azo(π*) back–bonding. The Re(CO)₃Cl(L) lattice consists of C–H...Cl hydrogen bonding and Cl...O non-bonded interactions constituting a supramolecular network. Extended Hückel calculations reveal that the LUMO of Re(CO)₃Cl(L) is Ca. 57% azo in character. One-electron quasireversible electrochemical reduction of the complex occurs near −0.3 V versus Saturated Calomel electrode(s.c.e.) The redox orbital is believed to belong to the above noted LUMO. Electrogenerated Re(CO)₃Cl(L^•–) underwent spontaneous solvolytic chloride displacement in MeCN, resulting in the isolation of Re(CO)₃(MeCN)(L^•–). The latter complex in turn reacted with imidazole and triphenylphosphine, furnishing Re(CO)₃(C₃H₄N₂)(L^•–) and Re(CO)₃(PPh₃)(L^•–), respectively. The pattern of carbonyl stretching frequencies of these radical anion complexes is similar to that of Re(CO)₃Cl(L) but with shifts to lower frequencies by 10–20 cm⁻¹. All three radical anion systems are one-electron paramagnetic (1.7–1.8 μ_B). The unpaired electron is primarily localized on the azoheterocycle ligand in a predominantly azo-π* orbital, but a small metal contribution (^{185, 187}Re, I=5/2) is also present. Thus Re(CO)₃(MeCN)(L^•–) and Re(CO)₃(C₃H₄N₂)(L^•–) display six-line e.p.r. spectra (A ˜ 28 G). The line shapes and intensities are characteristic of the presence of g-strain. In the case of Re(CO)₃(PPh₃)(L^•–) seven nearly equispaced lines are observed due to virtually equal coupling between the metal and ³¹P (I=&frac;) nuclei. The g-values of the radical species are slightly higher than the free-electron value of 2.0023.     

Ion-molecule reactions of primary radical cations in the liquid-phase radiolysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-alkanes: An EPR study

Radiation-chemical yields the liquid-phase radiolysis of C₅–C₁₂ n-alkanes were measured using the spin trap technique. The yields of n-alkyl radicals depended only slightly on the chain length in C₅–C₉ alkanes and amounted up to 30% of the total yield of trapped radicals; they were inhibited by the addition of charge scavengers. An analysis of the experimental results together with data on radicals in irradiated crystalline alkanes and radical cations in freon matrices showed that n-alkyl radicals results from the ion-molecule reactions of primary radical cations, whereas the protonated ions RH₂⁺ as products of these reactions are a source of sec-alkyl radicals. At least 60% of primary radical cations are consumed via these reaction pathways. A part of sec-alkyl radicals is due to gauche-conformers. The relative amount of primary alkyl radicals formed in the degradation of excited states and the subsequent charge neutralization processes should be insignificant.Translated from Khimiya Vysokikh Energii, Vol. 39, No. 1, 2005, pp. 5–14.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Belevskii, Belopushkin.     

Mononuclear manganese(II) and manganese(III) complexes of N<Subscript>2</Subscript>O donors involving amine and phenolate ligands: absorption spectra,electrochemistry and crystal structure of [Mn(L<Subscript>3</Subscript>)<Subscript>2</Subscript>](ClO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)

A number of mononuclear manganese(II) and manganese(III) complexes have been synthesized from tridentate N₂O aminophenol ligands (HL₁–HL₅) formed by reduction of corresponding Schiff bases with NaBH₄. Three types of tridentate N₂O aminophenols have been prepared by reducing with NaBH₄which are (a) Schiff bases obtained by bromo salicylaldehyde reaction with N,N-dimethyl/N,N-diethyl ethylene diamine (HL₁, HL₂), (b) Schiff bases obtained by condensing salicylaldehyde/bromo salicylaldehyde and picolyl amine (HL₃, HL₄), (c) pyridine-2-aldehyde and 2-aminophenol (HL₅). All the manganese complexes have been prepared by direct addition of manganese perchlorate to the corresponding ligands and were characterized by the combination of i.r., u.v.–vis spectroscopy, magnetic moments and electrochemical studies. The u.v.–vis spectra of all of the manganese(III) complexes show two weak d–d transitions in the 630–520 nm region, which support a distorted octahedral geometry. The electron transfer properties of all of the manganese(III) complexes (1–4 and 6) exhibit mostly similar characteristics consisting two redox couples corresponding to the Mn^III → Mn^II reductions and Mn^III → Mn^IV oxidations. The electronic effect on the potential has also been studied by changing different substituents in the ligands. In all cases, an electron-donating group stabilizes the higher oxidation state and electron withdrawing group prefers the lower oxidation state. The cyclic voltammogram of [Mn^II(L₅)₂] shows an irreversible oxidation Mn^II → Mn^III at −0.88 V, followed by another quasi-reversible oxidation Mn^III → Mn^IV at +0.48 V. The manganese(III) complex (3) [Mn(L₃)₂]ClO₄has been characterized by X-ray crystallography.     

In situ X-ray diffraction study of reduction processes of Fe3O4- and Fe1−xO-based ammonia-synthesis catalysts

The temperature-programmed reduction process of two types of industrial ammonia-synthesis catalysts, A110 and ZA-5, which are, respectively, based on Fe₃O₄ and Fe_1−xO precursors, were studied by in situ X-ray power diffraction (XRD). It has been found that the ZA-5 has lower reduction temperature and faster reduction rate, and its active phase α-Fe possesses a higher value of lattice microstrain than A110. The simulation based on Rietveld refinement has also shown that the shape of α-Fe grain of ZA-5 has a mixed shape of cube and sphere with more exposing (111) and (211) planes, while that of A110 looks like a concave cube with more exposing (110) planes. Based on the results obtained, a growth model of α-Fe during the reduction of Fe₃O₄- and Fe_1−xO-based ammonia-synthesis catalysts is proposed, and the origins for the activity difference has been also discussed.     

Electrodeposition of Lu on W and Al electrodes: Electrochemical formation of Lu–Al alloys and oxoacidity reactions of Lu(III) in the eutectic LiCl–KCl

The electrodeposition of lutetium on inert electrodes and the formation of lutetium–aluminium alloys were investigated in the eutectic LiCl–KCl in the temperature range 673–823 K. On a tungsten electrode, the electroreduction of Lu(III) proceeds in a single step and electrocrystalization plays an important role. Experimental current–time transients are in good agreement with theoretical models based on either instantaneous or progressive nucleation with three dimensional growth of the nuclei, depending on the working temperature. The diffusion coefficient of Lu(III) was determined by chronopotentiometry by applying the Sand equation. The activation energy for diffusion was found to be 31.5 ± 1.3 kJ mol⁻¹. Al₃Lu and mixtures of Al₃Lu and Al₂Lu, characterized by XRD analysis and SEM, were obtained from the LiCl–KCl melt containing Lu(III) by potentiostatic electrolysis using an Al electrode. The activity of Lu and the standard Gibbs energies of formation for Al₃Lu were estimated from open-circuit chronopotentiometric measurements. The E–pO²⁻(potential–oxoacidity) diagram for Lu–O stable compounds in LiCl–KCl at 723 K has been constructed by combining theoretical and experimental data. In this way, the apparent standard potential for the Lu(III)/Lu system has been determined by potentiometry. Potentiometric titrations of Lu(III) solutions with oxide donors, using a yttria stabilized zirconia membrane electrode “YSZME” as a pO²⁻ indicator electrode, have shown the stability of LuOCl and Lu₂O₃ in the melt and their solubility products have been determined at 723 K.     

Methylpyrazine Ammoxidation over Binary Oxide Systems: V. Effect of Phosphorus Additives on the Physicochemical and Catalytic Properties of a Vanadium–Titanium Catalyst in Methylpyrazine Ammoxidation

Oxide vanadium–titanium catalysts modified by phosphorus additives (20V₂O₅–(80 –n)TiO₂–nP₂O₅, n = 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 wt %) are studied in methylpyrazine ammoxidation. Two regions of compositions are found corresponding to radically different catalytic properties, namely, catalysts with a low (5 wt % P₂O₅) and high (10 wt % P₂O₅) concentration of the additive. In the first case, the introduction of phosphorus is accompanied by a gradual increase in the activity. In the second case, an increase in the additive concentration results in a decrease in the activity and selectivity to the target product, pyrazineamide, and a simultaneous increase in the selectivities to by-products, pyrazine and carbon oxides. The catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, differential dissolution, IR, and NMR spectroscopic data. As in the binary system, the active sites of the samples with a low concentration of phosphorus contain V⁵⁺ cations in a strongly distorted octahedral oxygen environment, which are strongly bound to a support due to the formation of V–O–Ti bonds. The catalytic properties of the samples containing 10 wt % P₂O₅ are due to the presence of the phase of a triple V–P–Ti compound with an atomic ratio V : P : Ti approximately equal to 1 : 1 : 1. The V⁵⁺ cations in this compound occur in a weakly distorted tetrahedral oxygen environment and are bound to the tetrahedral P⁵⁺ cations.     

UV–visible spectrum of the phenyl radical and kinetics of its reaction with NO in the gas phase

Pulse radiolysis transient UV–visible absorption spectroscopy was used to study the UV–visible absorption spectrum (225–575 nm) of the phenyl radical, C₆H₅(), and kinetics of its reaction with NO. Phenyl radicals have a strong broad featureless absorption in the region of 225–340 nm. In the presence of NO phenyl radicals are converted into nitrosobenzene. The phenyl radical spectrum was measured relative to that of nitrosobenzene. Based upon σ(C₆H₅NO)_{270 nm}=3.82×10⁻¹⁷ cm² molecule⁻¹ we derive an absorption cross-section for phenyl radicals at 250 nm, σ(C₆H₅())_{250 nm}=(2.75±0.58)×10⁻¹⁷ cm² molecule⁻¹. At 295 K in 200–1000 mbar of Ar diluent k(C₆H₅()+NO)=(2.09±0.15)×10⁻¹¹ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹.