Bimetallic Cu–Pt/nanoporous carbon composite as an efficient catalyst for methanol oxidation

A novel bimetallic Cu–Pt nanoparticle supported onto Cu/indirectly carbonized nanoporous carbon composite (Cu–Pt/ICNPCC) was prepared through a two-step process: first, carbonization of furfuryl alcohol-infiltrated MOF-199 [metal–organic framework Cu₃(BTC)₂ (BTC?=?1,3,5-benzene tricarboxylate)], without removing the Cu metal with HF aqueous solution; second, the partial galvanic replacement reaction (GRR) of Cu nanoparticles by Pt^IV upon immersion in a platinum(IV) chloride solution. The synthesized materials characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and electrochemical methods. The EDS result revealed that part of Cu nanoparticles have been substituted by Pt nanoparticles after GRR. The methanol oxidation at the surface of Cu–Pt/ICNPCC was investigated by cyclic voltammetry method in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and indicated good electro-catalytic activity towards methanol oxidation (E_p?=?0.85 V vs. NHE and j_f?=?1.00 mA cm^?2). It is suggested that this improvement is attributed to the effect of proper Cu/ICNPCC for fine dispersion, efficient adhesion, and prevention of Pt coalescing.     

Is bismuth subsalicylate an effective nontoxic catalyst for plga synthesis?

Poly(d,l ‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) (PLGA) copolyesters are commonly used in biomedical applications. Researches were carried out on nontoxic or low‐toxic catalysts that are enough efficient to provide short polymerization times, adequate microstructure chains and similar properties than the commercial PLGA materials. In this study, PLGA were synthesized by ring‐opening copolymerization (ROP) using three different catalysts. Stannous octoate is the first catalyst we used, as it is very efficient, even its toxicity is still on debate. Two others low‐toxic catalysts [zinc lactate and bismuth subsalicylate (BiSS)] were also evaluated. The comparison of these ROP was realized in terms of kinetics and control of the polymerization. Then, the influence of the catalyst on the PLGA microstructure chains is reported. Finally, abiotic hydrolytic degradation rate is studied. Results described in this article show that BiSS is one very attractive catalyst to produce low toxic PLGA for biomedical applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1130–1138     

Platinum–polytyramine composite material with improved performances for methanol oxidation

Polytyramine (PTy) is shown to be a possible alternative to other conducting polymers as a support material for fuel cell electrocatalysts such as platinum. In this work, a Pt–PTy composite was prepared via potentiodynamic deposition of polytyramine on graphite substrate, followed by the electrochemical deposition of Pt nanoparticles. The material obtained by this straightforward method exhibited, for platinum loadings as low as ca. 0.12 mg cm⁻², a specific electrochemically active surface area of the electrocatalyst of ca. 54 m² g⁻¹, together with a good electrocatalytic activity for methanol oxidation in acidic media, thus ensuring better efficiency of Pt utilization. The system Pt–PTy appears to be worthy of development for methanol fuel cell applications also because the results suggested that, when deposited as small particles in a PTy matrix, platinum is less sensitive to fouling during CH₃OH oxidation.     

Electrocatalytic performance of PdCo–C catalyst for formic acid oxidation

PdCo–C catalyst was synthesized through a simple simultaneous reduction reaction with sodium borohydride in aqueous solution. Inductive coupled plasma emission spectrometer (ICP) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) technologies had been used to characterize the PdCo–C catalyst and proved that the amount of Co was 1.5 wt%, PdCo alloy was formed and possessed face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline structure, and the average particle size was about 5.1 nm. The electrochemical tests (cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA)) showed that the addition of Co could significantly improve the electrocatalytic activity and stability. The enhancement of electrocatalytic activity and stability was mainly ascribed to the interaction between Pd and additive Co, which facilitated the oxidation reaction of formic acid in direct pathway.     

Organotin–oxotungstate coordination polymer: An efficient catalyst for the selective oxidation of amines

The organometallic coordination polymer [(nBu₃Sn)₂WO₄] catalyzed the selective oxidation of secondary and primary amines to nitrones and oximes, respectively. The catalyst was found to be reusable for five catalytic cycles without any appreciable loss in activity. Under the optimized reaction conditions [4 mol% catalyst, 3–4 equiv of hydrogen peroxide (30 wt%, aqueous solution), methanol as the solvent, r.t.], the corresponding nitrones and oximes were obtained with good efficiency.     

Supercritical CO2: an effective medium for the chemo-enzymatic synthesis of block copolymers?

In this review, we describe the combination of enzymatic polymerisation and controlled free radical polymerisation in supercritical carbon dioxide. This combination facilitates the preparation of a range of block and graft copolymers, some of which cannot easily be obtained by conventional polymer synthesis. Biocatalysis in polymer science provides significant new opportunities and will open up a very broad range of new polymeric materials.     

Stannous oxalate as a novel catalyst for the synthesis of polytrimethylene terephthalate

Stannous oxalate was prepared efficiently and characterized by XRD and FT-IR. It exhibited higher catalytic activity and had profitable effect than tetrabutyl titanate and stannous octoate for the synthesis of polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) via esterification-route. Over this catalyst, the degree of esterification of pure terephthalic acid was up to 94.4% at 260°C after 1.5 h, while the intrinsic viscosity and content of terminal carboxyl groups of the corresponding PTT polyester, polymerized at 260°C, 60 Pa for 2 h, was 0.8950 dL/g and 15 mol/t, respectively. Stannous oxalate was a promising catalyst for the synthesis of PTT polyester.     

Self-oscillating gels based on novel catalyst for the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction

We report on the synthesis of new Ru(bpy)₂(phen) catalyst for the oscillatory Belousov–Zhabotinsky chemical reaction and on the preparation of novel Ru(bpy)₂(phen)-based self-oscillating gels. The synthesized gels exhibit high-amplitude autonomous mechanical oscillations when the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction proceeds inside these gels     

Comparison of two preparation methods of supported Li?Ni catalyst on alumina for selective oxidation of methane

Lithium-added nickel catalysts on alumina were prepared for CO₂ reforming of methane by two methods, precipitation and impregnation. Performances of the catalysts were investigated by TG, CO-adsorption and SEM analysis. The catalyst with ratio of Li/Ni=1.0 prepared by precipitation method has high nickel dispersion, catalytic activity and stability for CO₂ reforming of methane.     

Asymmetric oxidative dearomatizations promoted by hypervalent iodine(III) reagents: an opportunity for rational catalyst design?

The use of and λ³- and λ⁵-iodanes in the oxidative dearomatization of phenols is a well-established and general procedure for the construction of cyclohexadienone structures. However, their use in asymmetric dearomatization reactions is quite underdeveloped and, despite work by several research groups over the past several years, a general chiral aryl iodide catalyst has yet to emerge. This Letter will serve to highlight the significant progress that has been made in this area and will reveal some of deficiencies in the literature that the author believes may be hindering further progress.     

Ammonium metavanadate： A novel catalyst for synthesis of 2-substituted benzimidazole derivatives

Ammonium metavanadate (10 tool%) was found to be a useful catalyst for the synthesis of various 2-substituted aryl benzimidazoles. It was used as an oxidizing agent for the condensation of o-pbenylenediamine with different substituted aryl aldehydes at room temperature in ethanol. The method was proved to be simple, convenient and the product was isolated with good yields (79-91%).     

Hydrogen evolution and oxidation—a prototype for an electrocatalytic reaction

Due to progress in the theory of electrocatalysis and in quantum chemistry, it has become possible to investigate the hydrogen reaction and perform quantitative calculations for the reaction rate. First, we demonstrate this with model calculations for the adsorption of hydrogen on Pt(111). In accordance with experimental data, we find hydrogen adsorption at a potential above the equilibrium potential and with an almost vanishing energy of activation. As a second example, we explain trends in the catalytic activity of palladium overlayers and clusters on Au(111) electrodes. Dedicated to J.O’M. Bockris on the occasion of his 85th birthday and in recognition of his contributions to electrochemistry.

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Nickel and potassium co-modified β-Mo2C catalyst for CO conversion

Nickel and potassium co-modified -Mo2C catalysts were prepared and used for CO hydrogenation reaction. The major products over -Mo2C were C1–C4 hydrocarbons, only few alcohols were obtained. Addition of potassium resulted in remarkable selectivity shift from hydrocarbons to alcohols at the expense of CO conversion over -Mo2C. Moreover, it was found that potassium enhanced the ability of chain propagation with a higher C2+OH production. Modified by nickel, -Mo2C showed a relatively high CO conversion, however, the products were similar to those of pure -Mo2C. When co-modified by nickel and potassium, -Mo2C exhibited high activity and selectivity towards mixed alcohols synthesis, and also the whole chain propagation to produce alcohols especially for the stage of C1OH to C2OH was remarkably enhanced. It was concluded that the Ni and K had, to some extent, synergistic effect on CO conversion.     

Cobalt boron nitride: A novel heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of medicinally important α-amino quinoline phosphonates

A novel cobalt supported on boron nitride (CoBNT) heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of α-amino quinoline phosphonates (AQPs) is reported in the present work. The CoBNT was synthesised by simply mixing boron nitride in a solution of cobalt acetate, under an inert atmosphere for 7 d followed by filtration; the yield was 94%. It exhibited excellent catalytic properties for the synthesis of 16 novel AQPs in a one pot mixture containing 2-methoxy 3-formyl quinoline, aniline derivatives and diethyl phosphite. Reactions were rapid, products were easily worked-up and were obtained in more than 90% yield. The CoBNT also exhibited higher catalytic activity than conventional catalysts and was re-used five times without significant decrease in catalytic activity.     

Efficient magnetic CoFe2O4 nanocrystal catalyst for aerobic oxidation of cyclohexane prepared by sol–gel auto-combustion method: effects of catalyst preparation parameters

Six magnetic spinel-type CoFe₂O₄ samples were prepared in the form of powder by a simple sol–gel auto-combustion method from precursor solutions with different metal concentrations (0.1–0.3 mol L^?1) and pH values (<1–10). The samples were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy and N₂-physisorption. Their catalytic performances for oxidation of cyclohexane were evaluated using oxygen as oxidant in the absence of solvents. The results show that pH values and metal concentrations of precursor solutions play important roles in the sizes, dispersions and morphologies of the CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles, and thus in their catalytic performances. The sample resulted from precursor solution under the conditions of pH = 7 and metal concentration = 0.1 mol L^?1 with the largest surface area, exhibited the best catalytic performance with the highest cyclohexane conversion of 13.7 % and selectivity of 93.9 % for cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. The CoFe₂O₄ nanocrystal is also found an efficient catalyst for oxidation of aliphatic and aromatic alkenes.     

P-modified cobalt oxide：A novel and effective catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

A series of nanosized cobalt oxide catalysts modified with phosphorus have been synthesized by the sol–gel method and investigated in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propene.With the addition of phosphorus,the crystallite size of the catalyst was largely decreased,while the P species in the catalyst were highly dispersed.Compared to pure cobalt oxide,the P-modified samples showed higher propane conversion and enhanced propene selectivity.Over the PCoO catalyst with a P/Co atomic ratio of 0.05,the maximal propene yields of 15.7%with a propane conversion of 28.3%were obtained at 520℃.     

Nafion-H?: A recyclable and diastereoselective solid acid catalyst for three-component mannich reaction

One-pot, three-component Mannich reactions of ketones, aldehydes and amines are efficiently catalyzed by heterogeneous Nafion-H? ambient temperature to give the corresponding ??-amino ketones compounds in good to excellent yields. The catalyst can be easily recovered and reused without any decrease of activity for at least four times. Diastereoselective products can be obtained in Mannich reaction of aliphatic ketone.