"Decoking" of a "coked" zeolite catalyst in a glow discharge

'Decoking' of a 'coked' zeolite catalyst in a glow discharge in oxygen is investigated. The 'decoking' process involves reactions of atomic oxygen (O atoms) with 'coke' and yields gases such as CO, CO₂ as well as other gaseous products that could be easily pumped out.Three different modes of discharge were investigated including a static mode, a flowing-gas mode, and a periodic-purge mode where the oxygen and other gaseous products of the discharge were replaced by fresh O₂ gas after short but regular intervals of time. In some cases, additional heating was also used to provide base temperatures of the order of 100 °C to facilitate penetration of oxygen atoms into the inner layers and cages of the zeolite catalyst.This paper presents some results of spectroscopic analytical techniques used to monitor the atomization of oxygen, oxidation of 'coke', and to confirm the process of 'decoking'. More specifically, radiation emission on the 3 s ⁵S– 3p ⁵P transitions of O around 777.2–777.5 nm were selected for monitoring the atomization of O₂. On the other hand, X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to determine the amount of residual carbon and extent of 'decoking'. Furthermore, evolution of CO and CO₂ gases as a function of time was systematically monitored in real time. For CO, the 451.1 nm band head belonging to the B¹ - A¹ bands of the Angstrom system of the CO spectrum was used, while for CO₂, the band head at 353.4 nm belonging to the CO₂⁺ spectrum was used. The rates of evolution of CO and CO₂ were related to the rate of 'decoking' of the catalyst. It is noted that in the periodic-purge mode, about 63% of the total yield of CO from a given sample of the catalyst appears in the first 3-min exposure to discharge whereas it takes up to 15 min to remove nearly 94% of the removable carbon under our experimental conditions.     

"n-Doping" of deltahedral Zintl ions

We report a simple and efficient method for replacing germanium atoms in deltahedral Ge(9)(4-) clusters with Sb or Bi. While reactions of Ge(9)(4-) with EPh(3) (E = Sb, Bi) at room temperature are known to produce mono- and disubstituted clusters [Ph(2)E-Ge(9)-Ge(9)-EPh(2)](4-) and [Ph(2)E-Ge(9)-EPh(2)](2-), respectively, at elevated temperatures or with sonication they result in exchange of Ge cluster atoms with Sb or Bi. Structurally characterized from such reactions are the novel "n-doped" deltahedral Zintl ions [(EGe(8))-(Ge(8)E)](4-), (Sb(2)Ge(7))(2-), and [(SbGe(8))-SbPh(2)](2-).     

Anion dependent self-assembly of "tetra-decker" and "triple-decker"luminescent Tb(III) salen complexes

The Schiff base complexes [Tb3L4(H2O)2]Cl and [Tb3L3(OAc)2Cl] both have unusual multi-decker architectures formed via intramolecular pi-pi interactions between phenylene units.     

"Adiabatic-hindered-rotor" treatment of the parahydrogen-water complex

Inspired by a recent successful adiabatic-hindered-rotor treatment for parahydrogen pH(2) in CO(2)-H(2) complexes [H. Li, P.-N. Roy, and R. J. Le Roy, J. Chem. Phys. 133, 104305 (2010); H. Li, R. J. Le Roy, P.-N. Roy, and A. R. W. McKellar, Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 133401 (2010)], we apply the same approximation to the more challenging H(2)O-H(2) system. This approximation reduces the dimension of the H(2)O-H(2) potential from 5D to 3D and greatly enhances the computational efficiency. The global minimum of the original 5D potential is missing from the adiabatic 3D potential for reasons based on solution of the hindered-rotor Schro?dinger equation of the pH(2). Energies and wave functions of the discrete rovibrational levels of H(2)O-pH(2) complexes obtained from the adiabatic 3D potential are in good agreement with the results from calculations with the full 5D potential. This comparison validates our approximation, although it is a relatively cruder treatment for pH(2)-H(2)O than it is for pH(2)-CO(2). This adiabatic approximation makes large-scale simulations of H(2)O-pH(2) systems possible via a pairwise additive interaction model in which pH(2) is treated as a point-like particle. The poor performance of the diabatically spherical treatment of pH(2) rotation excludes the possibility of approximating pH(2) as a simple sphere in its interaction with H(2)O.     

"Jumping crystals": oxygen-evolving metal-nitroxide complexes

The crystals of heterospin complexes [M(hfac)(2)L(2)] (where M = Cu, Ni, Co, or Mn; hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate; and L = nitronyl nitroxide, 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-2-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-3-oxide-1-oxyl) were found to make unusual jumping motions. Under ambient conditions, the jumping and various displacements of crystals lasted for several weeks. The mechanical motion was accompanied by the cracking and disintegration of crystals, and a solid [M(hfac)(2)(L(1))(2)] complex with the corresponding imino nitroxide 4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-2-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-1-oxyl (L(1)) was detected. The jumping was accompanied by the spontaneous elimination of oxygen, the source of which was the nitronyl nitroxyl fragment of coordinated L. An X-ray study of [M(hfac)(2)L(2)] (where M = Cu, Ni, Co, or Mn) showed that the molecular structure of all [M(hfac)(2)L(2)] and their packing in the solid state were identical. The packing of [M(hfac)(2)L(2)] was concluded to be critical to the mechanical effect. In complexes with different stoichiometries or different sets of diamagnetic ligands ([Cu(hfac)(2)L](2), [Cu(hfac)(acac)L]·EtOH, [CuPiv(2)L(2)]·2CH(2)Cl(2), and [Cu(hfac)(2)L(2)Cu(2)Piv(4)]·3C(7)H(8) (where acac is acetylacetonate and Piv is trimethylacetate), or free L), the effect vanished when the packing changed.     

Tuning "kappticity" of tripodal ligands

The synthesis and structural characterization of a series of tripodal tris(phosphine) ligands, containing SiMe2 elbow groups, is described. The significant steric congestion in these ligands, due to the silylmethyl substituents, is manifest both in the solid-state structures and in the solution NMR spectra of the free ligands. Variable temperature 1H{31P} NMR studies of one of the ligands, CH3C(SiMe2PEt2)3 (4b) gave an estimated barrier to rotation around the Si-Capical bonds of approximately 10.4 kcal mol(-1). Octahedral kappa2- and kappa3-molybdenum complexes of these ligands also demonstrate the impact of the additional bulk imparted by the SiMe2 substituents, and the high Lewis basicity of these phosphines, with subtle changes at the apical and phosphine substituents changing the overall coordination chemistry observed.     

Schlenk's early "free" carbanions

Nearly a century ago, Schlenk published the syntheses and isolation of two most remarkable and unstable complexes: crystalline [Ph(3)C(-)][Me(4)N(+)] and [PhCH(2) (-)][Me(4)N(+)]. The crystal structure of the first complex contains a "free" Ph(3)C(-) ion, which displays the expected planar trigonal geometry at its central carbon atom. The phenyl groups are not orientated in the typical propeller arrangement, but instead display various orientations with respect to the molecular plane. These orientations can be directly related to the extent of charge delocalization and correlate well with other structural characteristics related to charge delocalization. The crystal structure also shows a network of C-H(delta+)...C(delta-) and C-H...pi interactions. Only C-H...pi interactions to the most negative charged phenyl rings are observed. The absolute Br?nsted acidity of Me(4)N(+) is calculated by the G2(MP2) method (287.7 kcal mol(-1)) and is compared to the calculated acidity of Me(4)P(+) (268.4 kcal mol(-1)). On this basis, the pK(a) value for Me(4)N(+) is estimated at 29.6. This makes the existence, and especially Schlenk's early isolation, of the "free" carbanions [Ph(3)C(-)][Me(4)N(+)] and [PhCH(2) (-)][Me(4)N(+)] quite noteworthy.     

Titanium "constrained geometry" complexes with pendant arene groups

The synthesis of the proligands C(5)Me(4)HSiMe(2)N(H)R) (R = CMe(2)Ph 1, 2-C(6)H(4)Ph 2) was accomplished via a straightforward salt metathesis reaction of the appropriate lithium amide and ClSiMe(2)(C(5)Me(5)H). Generation of the dilithio salt and reaction with TiCl(3)·(THF)(3) followed by oxidation gave C(5)Me(4)SiMe(2)N(C(6)H(4)Ph)TiCl(2) (3) in low yield. In contrast, deprotonation of 1 and 2 and reaction with (Me(2)N)(2)TiCl(2) afforded C(5)Me(4)(SiMe(2)NR)Ti(NMe(2))(2) (R = CMe(2)Ph 4, 2-C(6)H(4)Ph 5), respectively, in good yields Treatment with MeI gave the analogs C(5)Me(4)(SiMe(2)NR)TiI(2) (R = CMe(2)Ph 6, 2-C(6)H(4)Ph 7). Reduction of 7 with potassium graphite afforded C(5)Me(4)(SiMe(2)NC(6)H(4)Ph)Ti 8. Treatment of 6 and 7 with MeMgBr afforded C(5)Me(4)(SiMe(2)NR)TiMe(2) (R = CMe(2)Ph 9, 2-C(6)H(4)Ph 10). Complexes 9 and 10 in combination with the activator [Ph(3)C][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] catalyzed the polymerization of styrene and ethylene. Copolymerization was also investigated. While the catalyst derived from 10 showed poor activity, compound 9 showed markedly higher activity than 10 and (C(5)Me(4))SiMe(2)(NtBu)]TiMe(2).     

Synthesis of "solid solution" and "core-shell" type cobalt--platinum magnetic nanoparticles via transmetalation reactions

In this article, we report the synthesis of "solid solution" and "core-shell" types of well-defined Co--Pt nanoalloys smaller than 10 nm. The formation of these alloys is driven by redox transmetalation reactions between the reagents without the need for any additional reductants. Also the reaction proceeds selectively as long as the redox potential between the two metals is favorable. The reaction between Co(2)(CO)(8) and Pt(hfac)(2) (hfac = hexafluoroacetylacetonate) results in the formation of "solid solution" type alloys such as CoPt(3) nanoparticles. On the other hand, the reaction of Co nanoparticles with Pt(hfac)(2) in solution results in "Co(core)Pt(shell)" type nanoalloys. Nanoparticles synthesized by both reactions are moderately monodispersed (sigma < 10%) without any further size selection processes. The composition of the alloys can also be tuned by adjusting the ratio of reactants. The magnetic and structural properties of the obtained nanoparticles and reaction byproducts are characterized by TEM, SQUID, UV/vis, IR, EDAX, and XRD.     

Excited-state behavior of N-phenyl-substituted trans-3-aminostilbenes: where the "m-amino effect" meets the "amino-conjugation effect"

The electronic spectroscopy and photochemistry of the trans isomers of 3-(N-phenylamino)stilbene (m1c), 3-(N-methyl-N-phenylamino)stilbene (m1d), 3-(N,N-diphenylamino)stilbene (m1e), and 3-(N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)amino)stilbene (m1f) and their double-bond constrained analogues m2a-m2c and m2e are reported. When compared with trans-3-aminostilbene (m1a), m1c-m1e display a red shift of the S0 --> S1 absorption and fluorescence spectra, lower oscillator strength and fluorescence rate constants, and more efficient S1 --> T1 intersystem crossing. Consequently, the N-phenyl derivatives m1c-m1e have lower fluorescence quantum yields and higher photoisomerization quantum yields. The corresponding N-phenyl substituent effect in m2a-m2e is similar in cyclohexane but smaller in acetonitrile. This is attributed to the weaker intramolecular charge transfer character for the S1 state of m2 so that the rates for intersystem crossing are less sensitive to solvent polarity. It is also concluded that N-phenyl substitutions do not change the triplet mechanism of photoisomerization for m1 in both nonpolar and polar solvents. Therefore, the "m-amino conjugation effect" reinforces the "m-amino effect" on fluorescence by further reducing its rate constants and highlights the N-phenyl-enhanced intersystem crossing from the "amino-conjugation effect" by making S1 --> T1 the predominant nonradiative decay pathway.     

Synthesis and complexation of multiarmed cycloveratrylene-type ligands: observation of the "boat" and "distorted-cup" conformations of a cyclotetraveratrylene derivative

Investigations of a previously reported ligand, hexakis(2-pyridylmethyl)cyclotricatechylene (1), and a new tetrameric bridging ligand, octakis(2-pyridylmethyl)cyclotetracatechylene (2), the latter constructed on a larger cyclotetraveratrylene (CTTV) scaffold, are described. Variable-temperature NMR studies support a "sofa" conformation for 2, akin to studies on the parent compound. The coordination chemistry of 2 and its smaller trimeric homologue have also been investigated with silver(I), copper(II) and palladium(II) salts. An unexpected chelating mode was observed for 1 in the structure of DMF subset[Pd(3)Cl(6)(1)] x DMF, whereby the palladium cations bridge two veratrole subunits rather than chelating within a single subunit. In the structure of [Ag(4)(2)][Co(C(2)B(9)H(11))(2)](4) x 2.8 CH(3)CN x H(2)O, ligand 2 adopts a "boat" conformation, whereas in [Pd(4)Cl(8)(2)] x 4 H(2)O, (1)H NMR spectroscopic studies and calculations indicate that the ligand is present in a previously unobserved "distorted-cup" conformation. This conformation was calculated to be approximately 90 kJ mol(-1) lower in energy than the alternative "sofa" conformation. Thus, coordination-induced conformational control over CTTV derivatives offers new routes to exploit the host-guest chemistry of these compounds.     

Algorithm for coding DNA sequences into "spectrum-like" and "zigzag" representations

An algorithm for encoding long strings of building blocks, like 4 DNA bases (adenine-A, cytosine-C, thymine-T, and guanidine-G), 20 natural amino acids (from Alanine Ala to Valine-Val, plus the stop triplet), or all 64 possible base triplets (from AAA to TTT), into "zigzag" or "spectrum-like" representations is suggested. The new encoding scheme can be derived in the 3-, 2-, or 1-dimensional form depending on the user's wishes. The only information, besides the string for which the "spectrum-like" representation is sought, is the initial positioning of the complete set of units from which the string is composed, i.e., four positions for A, C, G, and T, or 20 positions for natural amino acids plus stop, etc. This initial positioning can be initialized in either the 3-, 2-, or 1-D form. As an illustration of the suggested encoding scheme of the visual and chemometric comparison of the first 10 exon strings of the beta globin gene of 10 different species, each string consisting of about 100 basic amino acids long is shown.     

石墨多壳层形成物的离壳生长现象

用高分辨透射电子显微镜(HRTEM)表征了在特定电弧放电条件下(碳阴极,钯管阳极)产生的石墨多壳层结构。看到了各种各样的,由多层石墨壳组成,大小从约2nm到20nm以上的多面体。对它们当中一些多面体所表现出来的自组装(self-assembly)"离壳生长"(out-of-shellgrowth)现象作了鉴定,并对其生长机制进行了讨论。     

Comparison of new microemulsion prepared "Pt-in-Ceria" catalyst with conventional "Pt-on-Ceria" catalyst for water-gas shift reaction

New "Pt-in-CeO(2)" catalyst prepared by microemulsion method is shown to give higher activity for a water-gas shift reaction but with no formation of CH(4), the side product from hydrogenation of carbon oxides using a hydrogen-rich reformate as compared to conventional "Pt-on-CeO(2)" catalysts. Detailed characterization by DRIFT analysis and temperature programmed reduction presented in this work clearly suggest the ceria coverage on Pt inhibits the metal from forming a strong CO adsorption.     

Supercritical hydrogenation and acid-catalysed reactions "without gases"

The high temperature catalytic decomposition of HCO2H and HCO2Et are used to generate the high pressure H2 and the supercritical fluids needed for micro-scale hydrogenation of organic compounds; our approach overcomes the problems and limitations of handling high pressure gases on a small-scale and opens the way to the widespread use of continuous supercritical reactions in the laboratory.     

Hydrogen evolution from organic "hydrides"

Benzimidazolines (dihydrobenzimidazoles) are shown for the first time to eliminate hydrogen (H2) by catalyzed reaction with protic compounds.     

"Spontaneous" ambient temperature dehydrocoupling of aromatic amine-boranes

The dehydrocoupling/dehydrogenation behavior of primary arylamine-borane adducts ArNH(2)?BH(3) (3?a-c; Ar = a: Ph, b: p-MeOC(6)H(4), c: p-CF(3)C(6)H(4)) has been studied in detail both in solution at ambient temperature as well as in the solid state at ambient or elevated temperatures. The presence of a metal catalyst was found to be unnecessary for the release of H(2). From reactions of 3?a,b in concentrated solutions in THF at 22?°C over 24?h cyclotriborazanes (ArNH-BH(2))(3) (7?a,b) were isolated as THF adducts, 7?a,b?THF, or solvent-free 7?a, which could not be obtained via heating of 3?a-c in the melt. The μ-(anilino)diborane [H(2)B(μ-PhNH)(μ-H)BH(2)] (4?a) was observed in the reaction of 3?a with BH(3)?THF and was characterized in situ. The reaction of 3?a with PhNH(2) (2?a) was found to provide a new, convenient method for the preparation of dianilinoborane (PhNH)(2)BH (5?a), which has potential generality. This observation, together with further studies of reactions of 4?a, 5?a, and 7?a,b, provided insight into the mechanism of the catalyst-free ambient temperature dehydrocoupling of 3?a-c in solution. For example, the reaction of 4?a with 5?a yields 6?a and 7?a. It was found that borazines (ArN-BH)(3) (6?a-c) are not simply formed via dehydrogenation of cyclotriborazanes 7?a-c in solution. The transformation of 7?a to 6?a is slowly induced by 5?a and proceeds via regeneration of 3?a. The adducts 3?a-c also underwent rapid dehydrocoupling in the solid state at elevated temperatures and even very slowly at ambient temperature. From aniline-borane derivative 3?c, the linear iminoborane oligomer (p-CF(3)C(6)H(4))N[BH-NH(p-CF(3)C(6)H(4))](2) (11) was obtained. The single-crystal X-ray structures of 3?a-c, 5?a, 7?a, 7?b?THF, and 11 are discussed.     

"Turn-on" fluorescent sensor for Hg2+ via displacement approach

A new Cu2+ compound Cu- NB, (where H2 NB is bis(2-hydroxyl-naphthalene-carboxaldehyde) benzil dihydrazone) was synthesized as a highly selective fluorescence chemosensor for the detection of Hg2+ in aqueous media through a displacement "turn-on" signaling strategy. Whereas the coordination of Cu2+ resulted in a considerable quenching of the typical luminescence of the naphthol rings in Cu-NB, the addition of Hg2+ ion led to a dramatic increase in the emission intensity of Cu-NB at about 530 nm (excitation at 430 nm). The competitive fluorescent experiments showed that alkali, alkaline earth metal ions, the group 12 metals Zn2+, Cd2+, the first-row transition-metal ions such as Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, and Ni2+, as well as Pb2+ could not inhibit the Hg2+-binding fluorescent enhancement. It is postulated that the existence of Cu2+ in the luminescent probe Cu-NB could turn away the interferences of other metal cations from Hg2+ detection. The optical responses of the free ligand upon addition of Cu2+ ion, and of the Hg-H2NB compound upon the addition of Cu2+ were also investigated for comparisons.     

"Lego" chemistry for the straightforward synthesis of dendrimers

A new straightforward method of synthesis of dendrimers, using two branched monomers (CA(2) and DB(2)), is described. Each generation is obtained in a single quantitative step, with only N(2) or H(2)O as byproducts; generation 4 is obtained in only four steps. The end groups are alternatively phosphines and hydrazines; their versatile reactivity is illustrated by the reaction of generation 4 with a branched CD(5) monomer, which increases the number of end groups in a single step from 48 to 250.