沸石桥羟基和硅羟基与噻吩相互作用的理论研究

采用密度泛函理论和模型簇法研究了噻吩和沸石分子筛桥羟基和硅羟基的相互作用.对噻吩吸附在硅羟基H3SiOH可能的两种配位方式及吸附在沸石模型簇H3Si(OH)Al(OH)2OSiH3桥羟基B酸上可能的两种配位方式进行了比较分析.所有模型簇采用B3LYP混合方法对氢原子在6-31G基组水平上,对硅原子、铝原子、氧原子、碳原子、硫原子在6-31 G(d)基组水平上进行了全优化和频率分析.着重考察了噻吩与硅羟基及分子筛桥羟基模型簇不同配位方式所形成的配合物的结构及能量变化.计算结果表明由于在形成沸石-噻吩和硅羟基-噻吩配合物的结构和性质变化不明显,所以它们之间的相互作用为范德华作用力.从噻吩在沸石分子筛的桥羟基和硅羟基与噻吩的相互作用的吸附热可以推断,噻吩优先吸附在桥羟基上,只有桥羟基吸附饱和后方吸附在硅羟基上.由频率分析结果和实验结果的一致性可以证明所推测吸附模型的正确性.     

Theoretical Study of Ethanethiol Adsorption on HZSM-5 Zeolite

The density functional theory and the cluster model methods have been employed to investigate the interactions between ethanethiol and HZSM-5 zeolites. Molecular complexes formed by the adsorption of ethanethiol on silanol H3SiOH with two coordination forms, model Bronsted acid sites of zeolite cluster H3Si(OH)Al(OH)2SiH3 interaction with ethanethiol, aluminum species adsorbed ethanethiol have been comparatively studied. Full optimization and frequency analysis of all cluster models have been carried out using B3LYP hybrid method at 3-21G basis level for hydrogen atoms and 6-31G(d) basis set level for silicon, aluminum, oxygen, carbon, and sulfur atoms. The structures and energy changes of different coordination forms of H3Si(OH)Al(OH)2SiH3-ethanethiol, silanol-ethanethiol and Al(OH)3-ethanethiol have been studied. The calculated results showed the nature of interactions was van der Waals force as exhibited by not much change in geometric structures and properties. The preference order of ethanethiol adsorbed on HZSM-5 zeolite may be residual aluminum species, bridging hydroxyl groups and silanol OH groups from the adsorption heat. The adsorbed models of protonized ethanethiol on bridging hydroxyl OH groups and linear hydrogen bonded ethanethiol on bridging OH groups suggested in literature might not exist as revealed by this theoretical calculation. Possible adsorption models were obtained for the first time.     

Interaction of the phospholipid head group with representative quartz and aluminosilicate structures: an ab initio study

Silica dust particles in the form of quartz (but not kaolin) have been hypothesized to promote pulmonary diseases such as silicosis. The hypothesis is that quartz and kaolin have a comparable membranolytic potential on a specific surface area basis, and they have a comparable cytotoxic potential for lavaged pulmonary macrophages. Suppression of the cytotoxic activity occurs when these dust particles are treated with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), a common phospholipid component of the lung pulmonary surfactant. However, the enzyme phospholipase A2 is known to digest the phospholipid component more readily in the presence of quartz than kaolin. Since surface silanol (Si-OH) and aluminol (Al-OH) groups may interact differently with the phospholipid, an understanding of the selective removal of phospholipid by PLA2 may explain in vivo differences in cytotoxicity between quartz and kaolin. To develop some insight into this phenomenon, the interaction between a phospholipid and silica particles was examined by performing ab initio DFT calculations on clusters constructed with small (one or two silica tetrahedral units) representative parts of the silicate surface and the phospholipid head group. The clusters consisted of a phospholipid head group or functional groups from the head group complexed with Si(OSiH 3) 3OH, Al(OSiH 3) 3OH (-) or Al(OSiH 3) 3OH 2. Fully optimized geometries of the complexes were used to determine binding energies, -OH vibrational frequency shifts, and NMR chemical shieldings. Results indicate that interaction of the protonated aluminol group (Al-OH 2 (+)) with the phosphate portion of the head group is strongest, while interaction of the -OH 2 (+) group with the trimethyl-choline moiety of the head group is weakest. The presence of the choline moiety increased the magnitude of the -OH vibrational frequency shifts, and the shifts were significantly larger in complexes with protonated aluminol groups relative to silanol complexes. Analysis of ChelpG atomic charges shows that a net transfer of charge occurs from the silica unit to the head group within the complexes.     

Acidic properties of [Al], [Ga] and [Fe] isomorphously substituted zeolites. Density functional model cluster study of the complexes with a probe CO molecule

The Brønsted acid strength and related characteristics of bridging hydroxyl groups in [Al]-, [Ga]- and [Fe]-framework-substituted zeolites have been studied using a model cluster density functional approach based on a gradient-corrected exchange-correlation energy functional. The acidity is found to decrease in the order Al(OH)Si > Ga(OH)Si > Fe(OH)Si in agreement with existing experimental and theoretical results. The present quantification is based on the calculated deprotonation energy of H₃Si(OH)TH₃, on the adsorption energy of a CO probe molecule as well as on the changes of the vibrational frequencies and absolute IR intensities of the O---H and of the C---O modes induced by CO adsorption. The vibrational parameters of the carbonyl adsorption complex in [Fe]-zeolites are predicted.     

Sensitivity of methyl thiolate desulfurization selectivity to reaction temperature and hydroxyl coverage

The adsorption and reaction of methanethiol (CH3SH) and dimethyl disulfide (CH3SSCH3) on Mo(110)-(1 x 6)-O have been studied using temperature-programmed reaction spectroscopy and reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy over the temperature range of 110-550 K. The S-H bond is broken upon adsorption to form adsorbed OH, water, and methyl thiolate (CH3S-) at low temperature. Water is evolved at 210 and 310 K via molecular desorption and disproportionation of OH, respectively. Some hydroxyl remains on the surface up to 350 K. Methyl thiolate is also formed from CH3SSCH3 on Mo(110)-(1 x 6)-O. Methyl thiolate undergoes C-S cleavage above 300 K, yielding methane and methyl radicals. There is also a minor amount of nonselective decomposition leading to the formation of carbon and hydrogen. Methane production is promoted by adsorbed hydroxyl. As the hydroxyl coverage increases, the yield of methyl radicals relative to methane diminishes. Accordingly, there is more methane produced from methanethiol reaction than from dimethyl disulfide, since S-H dissociation in CH3SH produces OH. The maximum coverage of the thiolate is approximately 0.5 monolayers, based on the amount of sulfur remaining after reaction measured by Auger electron spectroscopy. In contrast to cyclopropylmethanethiol (c-C3H5CH2SH), for which alkyl transfer from sulfur to oxygen is observed, there is no evidence for transfer of the methyl group of methyl thiolate to oxygen on the surface. Specifically, there is no evidence for methoxy (CH3O-) in infrared spectroscopy or temperature-programmed reaction experiments.     

Study of the geometry and location of the bridging OH groups in aluminosilicate and silicoaluminophosphate type zeolites using 1H MAS NMR sideband analysis and CP/MAS NMR

A numerical analysis of the ¹H MAS NMR sideband pattern of the bridging OH groups in various zeolites of the aluminosilicate type (LTA, faujasite, erionite, mordenite, pentasil) and of the silicoaluminophosphate type (SAPO-5, −17, −34, −37) yields H-Al distances of the hydroxyl protons to the adjacent framework aluminium nucleus which cover a range between 0.234 and 0.252 nm. From the results, a relation between the H-Al distance and the size of the oxygen rings (6−, 8−, 10− and 12-membered oxygen rings) could be derived. Using ²⁹Si CP/MAS NMR it was shown that the bridging OH groups in zeolites of the aluminosilicate type are located at the Si(nAl) sites with the largest possible number n. While the second coordination sphere of the T positions of the bridging OH groups in zeolites of the silicoaluminophosphate type (Si/(Al + P + Si) < 0.12) is occupied by the same number of phosphorus and aluminium atoms, the bridging OH groups in zeolites of the aluminosilicate type with medium framework aluminium densities are located at the Si(nAl) sites with n = 3, 2 and 1.     

Vibrational analysis of H2 and D2 adsorption on Pt/SiO2

Vibrational properties of surface species formed upon H2 and D2 exposure of silica supported platinum particles have been investigated with in situ diffuse reflection infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy. Experiments have been performed at 50-250 degrees C, using different platinum loading of the samples in the absence and presence of oxygen. In addition, electronic structure calculations and vibrational analysis have been performed within the density functional theory for H adsorption on a silica cluster, (HO)3SiOSi(OH)3. The spectroscopy experiments showed reversible formation of isolated OH and OD groups on the silica surface when the samples were exposed to H2 and D2, respectively. In addition to the absorption peak corresponding to isolated OH and OD groups, an intense broad band was observed around 3270 cm(-1) (2500 cm(-1)) during H2 (D2) exposure. Supported by the calculations, this band was assigned to perturbed OH groups on the silica surface. The surface coverage of new OH groups was found to correlate to the platinum loading in the samples, indicating that the new silanol groups were formed in the vicinity of the Pt particles. In the investigated temperature interval, the formation rate of OH groups was not found to be temperature dependent.     

An ab initio and DFT study of structure and vibrational spectra of disiloxane H3SiOSiH3 conformers. Comparison to experimental data

The structural and vibrational properties of siloxane monomers may account in the physical and chemical properties of silicone polymers. Because disiloxane (H(3)SiOSiH(3)) is the smallest molecule in the set which runs through small siloxanes like hexamethyldisiloxane (CH(3))3SiOSi(CH(3))3 to silicone polymers, its energetic, structural and vibrational features have been investigated in detail using density functional theory (B3LYP), post Hartree-Fock methods (MP2 and CCSD(T)) and basis sets up to spdfg quality. Five conformations were considered: three bent structures with C2v (double staggered, SS, and double eclipsed, EE, conformations) and Cs symmetries, and two linear forms with D3d and D3h symmetries. At all levels of theory, the relative stability was C2v(SS) approximately C2v(EE)>Cs>D3h>D3d. The difference of energy between the two C2v conformers is lower than 0.04 kcal/mol. At the highest level of theory (CCSD(T)/cc-pVQZ), the barrier to linearisation from C(2v) to D(3h) conformers was calculated at 0.43 kcal/mol, which is extremely low. Most of the structural and vibrational features of the disiloxane do not depend on the conformation of the molecule but are strongly influenced by the SiOSi angle. Anharmonic calculations allowed, without any scaling factor, an exhaustive reinvestigation of the assignments of observed wavenumbers in the infrared and Raman spectra of gaseous disiloxane. Particularly, in the gas phase spectrum, the SiOSi symmetric and antisymmetric stretches have been assigned at 599 and 1105, 596 and 1060, 527 and 1093 cm(-1) for H(3)SiOSiH(3), H(3)Si(18)OSiH(3) and D(3)SiOSiD(3), respectively. The experimental wavenumber splitting of SiOSi symmetric and antisymmetric stretches of H(3)SiOSiH(3) gave an estimation of the SiOSi angle at around 145 degrees . Ab initio methods were revealed more accurate for structural parameters, when DFT/B3LYP was enough for spectral assignments, even at the harmonic level using a single scaling factor.     

Factors influencing Al(3+)-dimer speciation and stability from density functional theory calculations

We have investigated aqueous Al-dimer complexes using density functional theory methods (e.g. the B3LYP exchange-correlation functional and the 6-311++G(d,p) basis set). In these calculations interactions between the Al(3+) cations and the H(2)O or OH(-) coordinating ligands are considered explicitly while the second hydration shell and remaining solvent are treated as a continuum under the IEF-PCM formalism. The Al-dimer chemical reactivity is discussed by analysis of changes in geometry, electronic structure and Gibbs free energy of formation, relative to two independent Al(H(2)O) monomers, as a function of water and hydroxide coordination. Our results indicate that the mechanism of cooperativity, i.e. decreased Al-water bond stability with increasing OH(-) coordination and increased water ligand hydrolysis as complex CN decreases, is operating on the dimer species and that, therefore, a wide variety of dimer species are available. While the stability of these species is observed to be dependent on the number of water and hydroxide ligands, the hydroxide bridging structure (singly, doubly and triply bridged species are considered) does not appear to correlate with dimer stability. Interestingly, intra-molecular H-bonds (in the form of the well known H(3)O bridge as well as two bridging structures, H(4)O(2) and H(2)O, that have not, to our knowledge, been previously considered) are observed to influence dimer stability. The evaluation of the equilibrium mole fraction of the dimer species in equilibrium with the aqueous Al(3+) monomer species of our previous study displays the qualitatively correct trend of solution composition as pH increases, namely monomeric aqueous Al(3+) and Al(OH) complexes dominate at low and high pH, respectively, and all remaining monomer and dimer species exist at intermediate pH. Further refinement of our data set by eliminating dimer complexes with OH/Al ratios greater than 2.6 brings our predicted equilibrium mole fraction distributions into excellent agreement with experimental observations. The triply bridged dimer is observed in low amounts while the singly and doubly bridged dimers dominate our model system at pH = ～4-7.     

Silsesquioxane models for silica surface silanol sites with adjacent siloxide functionalites and olefin polymerization catalysts thereof

Incompletely condensed silsesquioxanes of the type R7Si7O9(O[SiR'2O]n)OH (R = c-C5H9, c-C6H11; R' = Me, Ph; n = 1-4), containing a siloxane ring of variable size and rigidity and a remaining silanol, are described. Compared with a truly isolated silanol [R7Si8O12(OH)], solution and solid state FT-IR spectra of these compounds show a nu(OH) shift of approximately 150 cm(-1) to lower frequency, which suggests hydrogen bonding of the silanol with the internal siloxane ring. In agreement with this, the relative ion pair acidities of the silanols in THF, determined by UV/Vis, were lowered by 0.8-1.2 compared with a truly isolated silanol. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations on these systems confirm the presence of intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Possible interaction of the silyl ether functionalities with Lewis acidic metal sites was studied for the neutral gallium-substituted systems and cationic titanium silsesquioxane complexes, models for an immobilized titanium olefin polymerization catalyst. The electron donating capability of the siloxide functionalities in 1, 6, and 7 is not sufficient to satisfy the electron deficiency of the corresponding gallium silsesquioxane species, which form dimeric structures with a bridging siloxide unit rather than Lewis base adducts with coordinated siloxide functionalities. Metallation of 1 and 4 with [Cp"Ti(CH2Ph)3] (Cp" = eta5-1,3-C5H3(SiMe3)2) in a 1:1 ratio afforded monomeric titanasilsesquioxanes. To probe the effect of the neighboring siloxane ring on the highly Lewis acidic titanium center, the catalytic activities of the corresponding cationic half-sandwich complexes were tested in 1-hexene polymerization. Compared with the catalyst system based on the isolated silanol [(c-C5H9)7Si8O12OH], the presence of a neighboring siloxane ring causes considerable retardation of the polymerization process but also improves the stability of the catalyst.     

Addition of water, methanol, and ammonia to Al3O3- clusters: reaction products, transition states, and electron detachment energies

Products of reactions between the book and kite isomers of Al3O3- and three important molecules are studied with electronic structure calculations. Dissociative adsorption of H2O or CH3OH is highly exothermic and proton-transfer barriers between anion-molecule complexes and the products of these reactions are low. For NH3, the reaction energies are less exothermic and the corresponding barriers are higher. Depending on experimental conditions, Al3O3- (NH3) coordination complexes or products of dissociative adsorption may be prepared. Vertical electron detachment energies of stable anions are predicted with ab initio electron propagator calculations and are in close agreement with experiments on Al3O3- and its products with H2O and CH3OH. Changes in the localization properties of two Al-centered Dyson orbitals account for the differences between the photoelectron spectra of Al3O3- and those of the product anions.     

DFT investigation of NH3 physisorption on CuSO4 impregnated SiO2

In this quantum chemical investigation, NH(3) physisorption onto a model of copper sulfate impregnated silica is compared with pure silica and copper sulfate adsorbents. The physisorption process is modeled as direct binding of the NH(3) molecule to the adsorption site of the dry adsorbents and as displacement of a H(2)O molecule by NH(3) in the hydrated complexes. The surface of silica is represented by a hydroxyl group attached to a silsesquioxane cage, H(7)Si(8)O(12)(OH) and silica impregnated with CuSO(4) by the most stable configuration of the cluster containing a CuSO(4) ion pair placed adjacent to the silica cage. H(2)O is systematically added to the dehydrated adsorbents to investigate the role of water in NH(3) adsorption. Modeling hydrated environments of each type of adsorbent is focused on H(2)O molecules that directly coordinate with the active sites. The results indicate that the binding energy of adsorbing NH(3) onto the mixed adsorbent is greater than in pure silica. This enhanced binding in the mixed adsorbent is consistent with improved Br?nsted acidity of the silanol in the presence of CuSO(4).     

Synthesis and characterization of tin containing polyhedral oligometallasilsesquioxanes (POMSS)

Tin silicate species have shown good catalytic activity in various oxidation reactions. In an attempt to mimic surface tin species, several tin containing silsesquioxanes have been synthesized. Incompletely condensed silsesquioxanes (c-C5H9)7Si7O9(OH)3 and (c-C5H9)7Si7O9(OSiMe3)(OH)2 were reacted with common tin-precursors, which afforded several silsesquioxane ligated tin compounds. Divalent stannasilsesquioxanes form dimers of the type [(c-C5H9)7Si7O11(OX)Sn]2(X=H, SiMe3) with three-coordinated tin centers. The three-coordinated tin(II) are hydrolytically unstable whereas the octahedrally surrounded tetravalent stannasilsesquioxanes [(c-C5H9)7Si7O11(OX)]Sn(acac)2(X=H, OSiMe3) are hydrolytically robust. An unprecedented anionic trimeric cluster, [[(c-C5H9)7Si7O12Sn]3(mu2-OH)3(mu3-OH)]-[HNEt3]+, stabilized by bridging hydroxyl groups was formed when the product formed upon reacting (c-C5H9)7Si7O9(OH)3 with SnCl4 was slowly hydrolyzed. The stannasilsesquioxanes showed no catalytic activity in oxidation reactions.     

Density functional model studies of uranyl adsorption on (001) surfaces of kaolinite

The adsorption of uranyl on two types of neutral (001) surfaces of kaolinite, tetrahedral Si(t) and octahedral Al(o), was studied by means of density functional periodic slab model calculations. Various types of model surface complexes, adsorbed at different sites, were optimized and adsorption energies were estimated. As expected, the Si(t) surface was found to be less reactive than the Al(o) surface. At the neutral Al(o) surface, only adsorption at protonated sites is calculated to be exothermic for inner- as well as outer-sphere adsorption complexes, with monodentate coordination being preferred. Adsorption energies as well as structural features of the adsorption complexes are mainly determined by the number of deprotonated surface hydroxyl groups involved. Outer-sphere complexes on both surfaces exhibit a shorter U-O bond to the aqua ligand of uranyl that is in direct contact with the surface than to the other aqua ligands. This splitting of the shell of equatorial U-O bonds is at variance with common expectations for outer-sphere surface complexes of uranyl.     

Aluminium complexes in methanol-water mixture as studied by 27Al NMR nuclear magnetic resonance

(27)Al NMR spectroscopy can be used for study of coordination and solvation in both aqueous and non-aqueous solutions. Various octahedral and tetrahedral aluminium complexes have been proved to exist in solution by (1)H and (27)Al NMR spectroscopy. (27)Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy also can be used to determine thermodynamic properties of complexes in the solution. The formation of [Al(OH)(4-n)(CH(3)OH)(n)]((n-1)+) (n=1, 2, 3 and 4) species through the reaction of aluminate anion with methanol has been investigated by (27)Al NMR spectroscopy. (27)Al NMR spectra reveal evidence for Al bound to one, two, three and four CH(3)OH, the production of aluminate species is affected by the MeOH/H(2)O. Results obtained from 2D EXSY experiments clearly confirm there are exchanges among the species.     

Ti-MWW分子筛吸附H2O和NH3的结构和振动光谱的密度泛函理论计算

Ti-MWW分子筛具有10元环(10MR)孔道体系和12MR超笼以及外表面杯状空穴,在以H2O2水溶液为氧化剂的催化氧化反应中表现出不同于其他钛硅分子筛的特殊溶剂效应和立体选择性.已有的实验和密度泛函理论(DFT)计算研究表明,骨架Ti(IV)可能分布在10MR孔道和12MR超笼中.最近,我们采用DFT计算研究了Ti-MWW分子筛中骨架钛落位,通过比较Ti/Si替代能和红外振动光谱,提出Ti(IV)最可能落位在T1和T3位,并以[Ti(OSi)4]形态存在,显示960 cm–1钛特征振动峰.[Ti(OSi)4]物种水解时Ti–O键发生选择性断裂,生成具有翻转Ti–OH的[Ti(OSi)3OH]物种.由于Ti中心具有Lewis酸性,与配体分子络合后使Ti(IV)的配位状态改变. Ti-MWW分子筛中不同的骨架Ti(IV)落位和形态可能呈现不同的催化选择性.本文应用DFT研究了Ti-MWW分子筛中T1和T3位上不同钛物种与H2O和NH3的吸附作用,考察了其几何结构、吸附能以及红外振动光谱性质,为深入理解骨架Ti(IV)的微观结构及实验红外光谱表征提供参考数据.计算采用36T簇模型,从MWW分子筛晶体结构中分别以T1和T3为中心截取七层骨架原子,末端设为Si–H键并固定为1.46?.结构优化时松弛内部四层骨架原子并固定最外三层骨架原子.所有计算在B3LYP/6-31G(d,p)理论水平完成,计算的吸附能都经过BSSE校正,计算的频率以约化因子0.961校正.所有计算在Gaussian 09软件包完成.计算结果表明,四配位的[Ti(OSi)4]和[Ti(OSi)3OH]物种都能与H2O或NH3分子作用生成三角双锥的五配位络合物. H2O或NH3分子有选择性地进攻Ti–O键的Ti端,形成近乎直线的L–Ti–O键, L–Ti距离可达2.2–2.4?. T1位钛物种的Lewis酸性比T3位的略高.对于[Ti(OSi)3OH]物种, Ti–OH的存在使得Ti(IV)的酸性大大增强,表现出很强的吸附作用.此外,[Ti(OSi)3OH]物种也能通过Ti–OH基团与H2O和NH3形成氢键络合物,但是其吸附能比形成配位络合物的能量更小,说明配体分子更趋向于吸附在Ti中心形成配位络合物.自然键轨道分析表明, Ti(IV)中心的Lewis酸性归因于Ti的空4p轨道接受配体提供的孤对电子,并且属于LUMO+3.所有吸附络合物的特征振动频率分布在两个区域,即钛特征振动区域和羟基振动区域. T1和T3位的[Ti(OSi)4]物种的钛特征振动频率都在960 cm–1,与H2O形成五配位的吸附络合物之后,钛特征振动频率位移到970 cm–1.[Ti(OSi)3OH]物种的钛特征振动频率分别为990 cm–1(T1位)和970 cm–1(T3位),吸附H2O分子后都位移到980 cm–1.相应的NH3吸附络合物的钛特征振动峰频率都高出5 cm–1.分析表明,钛特征振动模式归属于Ti–O–Si键的不对称伸缩振动的协同振动.在羟基伸缩振动区域,气相H2O、末端Si–OH基团以及Ti–OH基团的羟基伸缩振动在3600–3760 cm–1.吸附H2O后,羟基伸缩振动移到3460–3150 cm–1区域.[Ti(OSi)3OH]物种与NH3和H2O形成氢键络合物后,钛羟基的伸缩振动频率分别红移500和1100 cm–1,出现在2700和3200 cm–1区域.吸附分子的O–H和N–H的伸缩振动频率略微蓝移,这反映了Ti物种具有Lewis酸性.     

Tautomerism of monochalcogenosilanoic acids CH3Si(O)XH (X = S,Se, Te) in the gas phase and in the polar and aprotic solution: An ab initio computational investigation

Computational investigations by an ab initio molecular orbital method (HF and MP2) with the 6‐311+G(d,p) and 6‐311++G(2df, 2pd) basis sets on the tautomerism of three monochalcogenosilanoic acids CH₃Si(?O)XH (X = S, Se, and Te) in the gas phase and a polar and aprotic solution tetrahydrofuran (THF) was undertaken. Calculated results show that the silanol forms CH₃Si(?X)OH are much more stable than the silanone forms CH₃Si(?O)XH in the gas‐phase, which is different from the monochalcogenocarboxylic acids, where the keto forms CH₃C(?O)XH are dominant. This situation may be attributed to the fact that the Si? O and O? H single bonds in the silanol forms are stronger than the Si? X and X? H single bonds in the silanone forms, respectively, even though the Si?X (X = S, Se, and Te) double bonds are much weaker than the Si?O double bond. These results indicate that the stability of the monochalcogenosilanoic acid tautomers is not determined by the double bond energies, contrary to the earlier explanation based on the incorrect assumption that the Si?S double bond is stronger than the S?O double bond for the tautomeric equilibrium of RSi(?O)SH (R?H, F, Cl, CH₃, OH, NH₂) to shift towards the thione forms [RSi(?S)OH]. The binding with CH₃OCH₃ enhances the preference of the silanol form in the tautomeric equilibrium, and meanwhile significantly lowers the tautomeric barriers by more than 34 kJ/mol in THF solution. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2008     

Nature, structure and strength of the acidic sites of amorphous silica alumina: an IR and NMR study

IR spectroscopy of probe molecules (pyridine, 2,6-dimethylpyridine, and CO) as well as high-resolution solid state NMR and especially double-resonance experiments give a new insight into the acidic sites of amorphous silica alumina (ASA). ASA samples are heterogeneous compounds that contain a silica alumina mixed phase as well as aluminum clusters and pure silica zones. The distribution of various forms depends both on the preparation method and on the Si/Al ratio. Formation of mixed phase leads to the creation of acidic hydroxyl groups of various strength, up to that present in dealuminated HY zeolite. Detailed spectroscopic analyses show that these acidic OH groups correspond to the silanol groups located in close vicinity to an Al atom in tetrahedral environment. The strength of the acidity of the OH species of ASA could be modified both by the location of the vicinal Al atom on the surface or in the bulk and by the number of aluminum atoms in the vicinity of silanol group. Cogelification of high silica-containing ASA appears as the best mean to prepare homogeneous amorphous aluminosilicate, which exhibits the strongest Br?nsted acidity.     

Uranyl adsorption on solvated edge surfaces of pyrophyllite: a DFT model study

In a computational study we addressed the adsorption of uranyl UO(2)(2+) on solvated (110) and (010) edge surfaces of pyrophyllite, applying a density functional approach to periodic slab models. We explored bidentate adsorption complexes on various partially deprotonated adsorption sites: octahedral Al(O,OH), tetrahedral Si(O,OH), and mixed AlO-SiO. Aluminol sites were determined to be most favorable on the (110) surface of pyrophyllite, while on the (010) surface mixed AlO-SiO sites are preferred. The structural parameters of all low-energy complexes on both surfaces agree rather well with EXAFS results for the structurally similar mineral montmorillonite. We calculate the average U-O distance to surface and aqua ligand oxygen atoms to increase with the increasing coordination number of uranyl whereas EXAFS results indicate the opposite trend. According to our results, several adsorption species, with different coordination numbers on different edge faces, may coexist on clay minerals. This computational finding rationalizes why earlier spectroscopic studies indicated the existence of more than one adsorption species, whereas a single type of adsorption complex was suggested from most EXAFS results.