Catalysis in competing isocyanate reactions. I. Effect of organotin–tertiary amine catalysts on phenyl isocyanate and N-butanol reaction

An analytical method based on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been developed to investigate the competing isocyanate reactions under the influence of various catalysts. The kinetics of the model reaction between phenyl isocyanate and n-butanol was studied in acetonitrile at 50°C. Effects of various catalysts such as an organotin compound, dibutyltin dilaurate, and tertiary amines, 1,4-diazabicyclo-(2,2,2)octane,N,N′,N″-pentamethyldiprophylene triamine,N,N′N″-tris(3-dimethyl-aminopropyl)-3-hexahydrotriazine, and N,N,N′-trimethylaminoethyl-ethanolamine on the reaction rate and the formation of reaction products were investigated. The reactions were followed by determining the NCO disappearance using the standard di-n-butylamine back-titration method as well as measuring the formation of various reaction products using the HPLC method. The relative specificity of a catalyst in isocyanate reactions can thus be determined from the profile of the model reaction which depends upon the structure of the catalyst employed.     

Transesterification/Acylation of secondary alcohols mediated by N-heterocyclic carbene catalysts

N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) are efficient catalysts for transesterification/acylation reactions involving secondary alcohols. The catalytic transformations are carried out employing low catalyst loadings in convenient reaction times at room temperature.     

Cyclotrimerization of butyl and cyclohexyl isocyanate—catalysis and kinetics

The cyclotrimerization of model aliphatic and cycloaliphatic isocyanates (butyl and cyclohexyl isocyanate) was carried out using an ammonium carboxylate and a salicylaldehyde-potassium complex as catalysts. The kinetics of the cyclotrimerization of butyl isocyanate in both 2-ethoxyethyl acetate and dimethylformamide (DMF) using the 2-ethylhexanoate salt of trimethylaminopropanol-2 was found to be of first order with respect to the isocyanate and also of first order with respect to the catalyst. The reaction rate in DMF was considerably greater than in 2-ethoxyethyl acetate, as could be expected. Employing the salicylaldehyde-potassium catalyst, the cyclotrimerization of butyl isocyanate followed second-order kinetics with respect to the isocyanate and first order with regard to the catalyst. Due to the fact that the cyclotrimerization of cyclohexyl isocyanate was found to be slower than that of butyl isocyanate, the cyclotrimerization of this isocyanate was carried out only in DMF using the 2-ethylhexanoate salt of trimethylaminopropanol-2 as the catalyst. The kinetics of this reaction was found to follow second order with respect to the isocyanate and first order with regard to the catalyst. The products of the reactions were identified by IR, ¹H-NMR, and mass spectrometry.     

Studies in the formation of poly(oxazolidones) I. Kinetics and mechanism of the model oxazolidone formation from phenyl isocyanate and phenylglycidyl ether. Selectivity of catalysts

The reaction of phenyl isocyanate with phenylglycidyl ether in the presence of various catalysts served as a model reaction for the preparation of poly(oxazolidones). The type of catalyst used determines the mechanism of the oxazolidone synthesis. In addition to the basic product, oxazolidone, side products may be formed, the most frequent of which is the formation of isocyanurates, which depends upon the temperature and the type of catalyst. The most effective epoxide-soluble catalysts evaluated so far in the preparation of oxazolidones were the complex catalyst AlCl₃-triphenylphosphine oxide and AlCl₃-hexamethylphosphoric triamide. The kinetic study of the oxazolidone formation was carried out by means of HPLC, and the isocyanate and epoxide were separately determined by means of the di-n-butylamine and the perchloric acid methods, respectively. The HPLC method also clearly demonstrated the presence of two isomers, 3-phenyl-5-phenoxymethyloxazolidone-2 and 3-phenyl-4-phenoxymethyloxazolidone-2. The distribution of these isomers, previously reported in the literature, was found to depend upon the temperature and the type of catalyst used.     

Role of preparation parameters of Cu–Zn mixed oxide catalyst in solvent free glycerol carbonylation with urea

Solvent-free carbonylation of glycerol with urea to glycerol carbonate (GC) was achieved over heterogeneous Cu–Zn mixed oxide catalyst. Cu–Zn catalysts with different ratios of Cu:Zn were prepared using co-precipitation (CP) and oxalate gel (OG) methods. As compared to CuO–ZnO(2:1) catalyst prepared by oxalate gel (OG) method, much higher conversion of glycerol and highest selectivity towards glycerol carbonate (GC) was achieved with CuO–ZnO_CP(2:1) catalyst. Physicochemical properties of prepared catalysts were investigated by using XRD, FT-IR, BET, TPD of CO₂ and NH₃ and TEM techniques. The effect of stoichiometric ratio of Cu/Zn, calcination temperature of CuO–ZnO catalysts and effect of reaction parameters such as molar ratio of substrates, time and temperature on glycerol conversion to GC were critically studied. Cu/Zn of 2:1 ratio, glycerol–urea 1:1 molar ratio, 145 ​°C reaction temperatures were found to be optimized reaction conditions to achieve highest glycerol conversion of 86% and complete selectivity towards GC. The continuous expel of NH₃ from reaction the mixture avoided formation of ammonia complex with CuO–ZnO catalyst. As a result of this, CuO–ZnO catalyst could be recycled up to three times without losing its initial activity.     

Cyclopolycondensations. VII. Preparation of aromatic poly(ureido acids) by the low-temperature solution polymerization and cyclodehydration to fully aromatic polyquinazolinediones

Fully aromatic polyquinazolinediones (IV) of high molecular weight were obtained by thermal cyclodehydration of aromatic poly(uredio acids) (III) prepared by the polyaddition reaction of 4,4′-diaminobiphenyl-3,3′-dicarboxylic acid (I) with aromatic diisocyanates (II). From the kinetic study of reactions of model systems (anthranilic acid with phenyl isocyanate) in the presence of a variety of basic catalysts, it was established that tertiary amines had the highest catalytic activity for the formation of ureido linkage. The optimum polymerization conditions were determined by the study of reaction variables such as monomer concentration, polymerization temperature, monomer ratio, and catalyst concentration. The effect of polarity and purity of organic solvents and reactants was also studied.     

Carbocations as Lewis Acid Catalysts in Diels–Alder and Michael Addition Reactions

In general, Lewis acid catalysts are metal‐based compounds that owe their reactivity to a low‐lying empty orbital. However, one potential Lewis acid that has received negligible attention as a catalyst is the carbocation. We have demonstrated the potential of the carbocation as a highly powerful Lewis acid catalyst for organic reactions. The stable and easily available triphenylmethyl (trityl) cation was found to be a highly efficient catalyst for the Diels–Alder reaction for a range of substrates. Catalyst loadings as low as 500 ppm, excellent yields, and good endo/exo selectivities were achieved. Furthermore, by changing the electronic properties of the substituents on the tritylium ion, the Lewis acidity of the catalyst could be tuned to control the outcome of the reaction. The ability of this carbocation as a Lewis acid catalyst was also further extended to the Michael reaction.     

Fluoropolyethers end‐capped by polar functional groups. III. Kinetics of the reactions of hydroxy‐terminated fluoropolyethers and model fluorinated alcohols with cyclohexyl isocyanate catalyzed by organotin compounds

The kinetics of the dibutyltin dilaurate (DBTDL)‐catalyzed urethane formation reactions of cyclohexyl isocyanate (CHI) with model monofunctional fluorinated alcohols and fluoropolyether diol Z‐DOL H‐1000 of various molecular weights (100–1084 g mol^?1) in different solvents were studied. IR spectroscopy and chemical titration methods were used for measuring the rate of the total NCO disappearance at 30–60 °C. The effects of the reagents and DBTDL catalyst concentrations, the solvent and hydroxyl‐containing compound nature, and the temperature on the reaction rate and mechanism were investigated. Depending on the initial reagent concentration and solvent, the reactions could be well described by zero‐order, first‐order, second‐order, or more complex equations. The reaction mechanism, including the formation of intermediate ternary or binary complexes of reagents with the tin catalyst, could vary with the concentration and solvent and even during the reaction. The results were treated with a rate expression analogous to those used for enzymatic reactions. Under the explored conditions, the rate of the uncatalyzed reaction of fluorinated alcohols with CHI was negligible. Moreover, there was no allophanate formation, nor were there other side reactions, catalysis by urethane in the absence of DBTDL, or a synergetic effect in the presence of the tin catalyst. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 3771–3795, 2002     

Characterization and catalytic performance of sol–gel derived Cu/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts for hydrogenolysis of diethyl oxalate to ethylene glycol

A series of Cu/SiO₂ catalysts with copper loadings ranging from 17.8 to 42.2 wt% were prepared by the sol–gel method and evaluated for the hydrogenolysis of diethyl oxalate to ethylene glycol. The physicochemical properties of these catalysts were systematically characterized by means of different techniques. It is found that copper loadings have great influence on the catalytic performance; the catalyst with a copper loading of 37.8 wt% exhibited the best activity and ethyl glycol selectivity. The sol–gel derived catalyst was superior in catalytic performance to the catalyst prepared by the deposition precipitation method, a result due to the presence of finely dispersed copper phyllosilicate.     

Thiol‐isocyanate‐acrylate ternary networks by selective thiol‐click chemistry

Thiol‐isocyanate‐acrylate ternary networks were formed by the combination of thiol‐isocyanate coupling, thiol‐acrylate Michael addition, and acrylate homopolymerization. This hybrid polymerization reaction sequence was preferentially controlled by using phosphine catalyst systems in combination with photolysis. The reaction kinetics of the phosphine/acrylate thiol‐isocyanate coupling reactions were systematically investigated by evaluating model, small molecule reactions. The thiol‐isocyanate reaction was completed within 1 min while the thiol‐acrylate Michael addition reaction required ～10 min. Both thiol‐isocyanate coupling and thiol‐acrylate Michael addition reactions involving two‐step anionic processes were found to be both quantitative and efficient. However, the thiol‐isocyanate coupling reaction was much more rapid than the thiol‐acrylate Michael addition, promoting initial selectivity of the thiol‐isocyanate reaction in a medium containing thiol, isocyanate, and acrylate functional groups. Films were prepared from thiol‐isocyanate‐acrylate ternary mixtures using 2‐acryloyloxyethylisocyanate and di‐, tri‐, and tetra‐functional thiols. The sequential thiol‐isocyanate, thiol‐acrylate, and acrylate homopolymerization reactions were monitored by infrared spectroscopy during film formation, whereas thermal and mechanical properties of the films were evaluated as a function of the chemical composition following polymerization. The results indicate that the network structures and material properties are tunable over a wide range of properties (T_g ～ 14–100 °C, FWHM ～ 8–46 °C), while maintaining nearly quantitative reactions, simply by controlling the component compositions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3255–3264, 2010     

Effect of urethane groups on the reaction of alcohols with isocyanates

Recently Reegen and Frisch reported the urethane catalysis of the alcohol–isocyanate reaction. We have made similar observations on a broader variety of reactants and catalysts including mono- and polyfunctional reactants, and tertiary amine, cobalt salt, and tin salt catalysts. We have found that the point in the reaction when urethane catalysis occurs is a function of the catalyst, the number of hydroxyl groups in the alcohol, and the effect of the interaction of the catalyst, alcohol, and isocyanate on the geometry of the reactive complex.     

Discovery and Application of Doubly Quaternized Cinchona‐Alkaloid‐Based Phase‐Transfer Catalysts

We report the discovery of novel N,N′‐disubstituted cinchona alkaloids as efficient phase‐transfer catalysts for the assembly of stereogenic quaternary centers. In comparison to traditional cinchona‐alkaloid‐based phase‐transfer catalysts, these new catalysts afford substantial improvements in enantioselectivity and reaction rate for intramolecular spirocyclization reactions with catalyst loadings as low as 0.3 mol % under mild conditions.     

Oxidative carbonylation of phenol to diphenyl carbonate catalyzed by palladium complexes bridged with N,N‐ligands over functionalized silica

Heterogeneous palladium catalysts anchored on functionalized silica were prepared by sol–gel methods and their catalytic properties for the oxidative carbonylation of phenol to diphenyl carbonate (DPC) were investigated. The catalysts were characterized by means of IR, XPS, EA and BET. The Pd loading in the heterogeneous catalysts and leaching in solution were detected by atomic absorption. The effects of different reaction parameters such as temperature, solvent and inorganic cocatalyst on the yield of DPC and Pd leaching were also studied. It was found that Cu₂O and tetrahydrofuran (THF) were the best partners with these heterogeneous catalysts. In the presence of 3 Å molecular sieves as dehydrating agent, the heterogeneous palladium catalyst prepared from 2‐acylpyridine revealed excellent catalytic performance and stability at 110 °C for 5 h, giving 13.7% yield of DPC based on phenol and 4.0% Pd loss in solution. The heterogeneous catalyst was more active and stable compared with traditional supported Pd? C catalyst under the same reaction conditions. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

二氧化硅负载磷钨酸铵催化苯酚氧化溴代反应

以溶胶-凝胶法制备的二氧化硅负载磷钨酸铵为催化剂,溴化钾为溴源,双氧水为氧化剂,冰醋酸为溶剂,实现了苯酚的催化氧化溴代反应。 探讨了催化剂负载量、催化剂用量和反应时间等反应参数对氧化溴代反应的影响。 结果表明,溶胶-凝胶法制备的负载磷钨酸铵仍具有典型的Keggin结构;在室温的温和条件下,该催化剂表现出较强的催化苯酚氧化溴代反应活性和较高的对溴苯酚选择性,在实验优化条件下,苯酚转化率达到95.4%,对邻比达到3.2;而且催化剂易回收,重复4次使用后,催化活性有所降低,苯酚转化率为87.4%,对邻比为1.6。     

富氧条件下Ir催化NO反应

用浸渍法制备了系列Ir催化剂, 研究了富氧条件下Ir催化NO的反应, 考察了催化剂的催化反应性能及负载量和载体对催化活性的影响. 结果表明, 在Ir催化剂上不仅发生了NO氧化反应, 同时也发生了NO还原反应; Ir催化剂对NO反应有催化作用, 催化活性随Ir负载量的增加而增强. 载体对催化剂活性有一定的影响, 负载量低于0.1%(w)时, 催化NO氧化的活性顺序为Ir/ZSM-5>Ir/γ-Al2O3>Ir/SiO2, 这主要受载体自身性质的影响; 负载量高于0.1%时, 催化NO氧化的活性顺序为Ir/ZSM-5>Ir/SiO2>Ir/γ的活性顺序为Ir/γ-Al2O3>Ir/SiO2>Ir/ZSM-5, 这主要由于载体吸附作用促进了NO2在Ir催化剂上吸附分解. 与Pt催化剂相比, Ir催化剂更有利于促进NO还原.     

Dual Gold Catalysis: σ,π‐Propyne Acetylide and Hydroxyl‐Bridged Digold Complexes as Easy‐To‐Prepare and Easy‐To‐Handle Precatalysts

A series of dinuclear gold σ,π‐propyne acetylide complexes were prepared and tested for their catalytic ability in dual gold catalysis that was based on the reaction of an electrophilic π‐complex of gold with a gold acetylide. The air‐stable and storable catalysts can be isolated as silver‐free catalysts in their activated form. These dual catalysts allow a fast initiation phase for the dual catalytic cycles without the need for additional additives for acetylide formation. Because propyne serves as a throw‐away ligand, no traces of the precatalyst are generated. Based on the fast initiation process, side products are minimized and reaction rates are higher for these catalysts. A series of test reactions were used to demonstrate the general applicability of these catalysts. Lower catalyst loadings, faster reaction rates, and better selectivity, combined with the practicability of these catalysts, make them ideal catalysts for dual gold catalysis.     

Acetone oxidation using ozone on manganese oxide catalysts

Supported manganese oxide catalysts were prepared by the impregnation of alumina foam blocks washcoated with alumina and silica. The manganese content based on the weight of the washcoats was 10 wt % calculated as MnO2. Fourier transform profiles of the Mn K-edge EXAFS spectra for these samples gave three distinctive peaks at 0.15, 0.25, and 0.32 nm and were close to the profiles of Mn3O4 and beta-MnO2. The number of surface active sites was determined through oxygen chemisorption measurements at a reduction temperature (Tred = 443 K) obtained from temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) experiments. Acetone catalytic oxidation was studied from room temperature to 573 K, and was found to be highly accelerated by the use of ozone on both catalysts with substantial reductions in the reaction temperature. The only carbon-containing product detected was CO2. The alumina-supported catalyst was found to be more active than the silica-supported catalyst in acetone and ozone conversion, with higher turnover frequencies (TOFs) for both reactions. The pressure drop through the foam was low and increased little (0.003 kPa/10 000 h(-1)) with space velocity. In situ steady-state Raman spectroscopy measurements during the acetone catalytic oxidation reaction showed the presence of an adsorbed acetone species with a C-H bond at 2930 cm(-1) and a peroxide species derived from ozone with an O-O bond at 890 cm(-1).     

A computational study of base‐catalyzed reactions between isocyanates and epoxides affording 2‐oxazolidones and isocyanurates

Title reactions were investigated with ab initio calculations. Methyl isocyanate and ethylene oxide were adopted as model reactants. The products, 2‐oxazolidones and isocyanurates, cannot be yielded without a base catalyst. The 2‐oxazolidone may be produced by a dual S_N2 reaction, where the catalyst base (e.g., Cl⁻) is a nucleophile and a leaving group on the ethylene–oxide carbon. Isocyanurate is generated by the stepwise association of three isocyanate molecules, where one of the molecules is initially linked with a base. The six‐membered ring isocyanurate is isomerized stepwise into the components isocyanate and 2‐oxazolidone. A tetrahedral type of complex between the isocyanurate and a base‐catalyzed ethylene oxide is the key intermediate for the isomerization. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 316–326, 2001     

Catalyst optimization strategy: selective oxidation of o-xylene to phthalic anhydride

The oxidation of o-xylene and/or naphthalene to phthalic anhydride is one of the important industrial processes based on catalytic selective oxidation reactions. Vanadia--titania catalysts have been used in the industrial phthalic anyhdride process for the last 50 years. The operation parameters like the temperature range of operation, reactor inlet pressures, contact times, o-xylene loadings, etc. were constantly improved during this period of continuous process optimization so as to optimize catalyst performance and increase its life time. However, a fundamental understanding of the mutual interaction of the rather complex reaction network and the catalyst formulation is still missing. Recently, a detailed study of by-product formation as function of process conditions allowed us to develop a novel, improved reaction scheme for the catalytic oxidation of o-xylene. Based on this understanding, a detailed investigation was conducted for the first time of the by-product formation under varying operation conditions and as a function of the active mass variation exploiting high-throughput, as well as bench scales reactors. This high-throughput testing allowed us to relate reaction kinetics to novel catalyst formulations.     

In an attempt to provide a user's guide to the galaxy of benzylidene, alkoxybenzylidene, and indenylidene ruthenium olefin metathesis catalysts

The data reported in this paper demonstrate that great care must be taken when choosing an appropriate catalyst for a given metathesis reaction. First-generation catalysts were found to be useful in the metathesis of sterically unhindered substrates. Second-generation catalysts (under optimised conditions) showed good to excellent activities toward sterically hindered and electron-withdrawing group (EWG)-substituted alkenes that do not react using the first-generation complexes. A strong temperature effect was noted on all of the reactions tested. Interestingly, attempts to force a reaction by increasing the catalyst loading were much less effective. Therefore, when possible, it is suggested that metathesis transformations should be carried out with a second-generation catalyst at 70 degrees C in toluene. However, different second-generation catalysts proved to be optimal for different applications and no single catalyst outperformed all others in all cases. Nevertheless, some empirical rules can be deduced from the model experiments, providing preliminary hints for the selection of the optimal catalysts.