Molybdenum-catalyzed reduction of molecular dinitrogen into ammonia under ambient reaction conditions

Synthesis of transition metal–dinitrogen complexes and stoichiometric transformations of their coordinated dinitrogen into ammonia and hydrazine have so far been well investigated in order to achieve a novel nitrogen fixation under ambient conditions. As an extension of our study, the dimolybdenum–dinitrogen complex bearing PNP pincer ligands has been found to work as an effective catalyst for the formation of ammonia from dinitrogen, where 52 equiv of ammonia are produced based on the catalyst (26 equiv of ammonia are produced based on the molybdenum atom of the catalyst). This is the most effective catalytic reaction system for the formation of ammonia from molecular dinitrogen catalyzed by transition metal–dinitrogen complexes as catalysts under ambient reaction conditions. Herein, we describe recent results concerning the catalytic reaction, including the proposed reaction pathway.     

The effect of low levels of dopants upon the formation and properties of beta-phase molybdenum nitride

The addition of 1 wt% Pd, Au, Ni and Cu dopants has been demonstrated to strongly alter the morphology of beta-phase molybdenum nitride prepared by treatment of MoO₃ with a 3/1 H₂/N₂ mixture at 750 °C. Furthermore, the addition of Pd significantly enhances the surface area and the formation of the nitride phase. It is proposed that the facile formation of molybdenum bronzes in this system is important in this respect. The dopants have also been observed to modify the denitridation characteristics of the beta-phase, with an overall reduction of the proportion of NH₃ formed upon using a 3/1 H₂/Ar mixture with respect to the undoped sample.     

Synthesis and characterisation of hexagonal molybdenum nitrides

Four hexagonal molybdenum nitrides—three modifications of δ-MoN and Mo₅N₆—were prepared by the plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) method and ammonolysis of MoCl₅ and MoS₂. The nitrides were structurally characterised by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and selected area electron diffraction. δ₁-MoN is best described by the WC-type structure with stacking faults due to nitrogen atom disorder. Ordering of nitrogen atoms results in δ₂-MoN with the NiAs-type structure. Formation of trigonal molybdenum clusters in δ₃-MoN is responsible for the doubling of the unit cell in a and b directions compared to δ₂-MoN. Mo₅N₆ can be viewed as an intergrowth structure of the WC- and NiAs-type building blocks, accompanied by vacancies on Mo sites. Influence of reaction conditions on the formation of the four nitrides is discussed; their magnetic properties are presented.     

Determination of phosphate/arsenate by a modified molybdenum blue method and reduction of arsenate by S2O4

A modified molybdenum blue method for fast and accurate measurement of arsenate and phosphate in aqueous solution at concentrations below 10 μmol l⁻¹ is reported. The modification consists of optimizing the composition of the molybdenum-containing solution (potassium antimony tartrate, ammonium molybdate, sulfuric acid).Selective reduction of arsenate by sodium dithionite is used to determine phosphate concentrations, and for the speciation of arsenate and arsenite, in an aqueous mixture according to the scheme developed by Johnston and Pilson. Sodium dithionite is used for the first time to achieve complete, fast (<10 min), and selective reduction of arsenate in neutral solution.These two significant improvements afforded a colorimetric limit for As detection near 1 ppb, which easily meets the requirements imposed by the revised EPA threshold levels for As in drinking water.     

Acyl complexes of molybdenum: structural and reactivity studies

The following structural peculiarities of the agostic acyl structure ₂R) (R = H, SiMe₃) and some characteristic chemical reactivity of the M-η²-acyl and iminoacyl linkage are described. (i) A structural comparison of the bonding parameters within three agostic acetyl Mo complexes containing the dithioacid ligand, indicates that the agostic interaction strengthens upon increasing the electron-releasing properties of the S-chelating ligand. (ii) The acyl-xanthate complex Mo(C(O)Me)(S₂COR)(CO)(PMe₃)₂ undergoes loss of a sulfur atom from the coordinated xanthate and coupling with the acyl ligand to form complexes containing coordinated alkoxythiocarbonyl and monothioacetate ligands. The latter can be metathetically replaced by KS₂COR. (iii) Upon heating at 70°C η²-acyl-dicarbonyl bispirazolilborate complexes of molybdenum of the type Mo(H₂B(pz^*)₂)(η²-C(O)Me)(CO)₂(PMe₃) (pz^* = 3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl) yield functionalized acyl ligands derived from the stereo- and regioselective intramolecular addition of one of the B---H bonds of the H₂B(pz^*)₂ group across the C=O moiety of the η²-acyl group. (iv) The η²-acyl-isocyanide complexes {Mo}(η²-C(O)R)(CNR′) ({Mo} = Mo(H₂B(pz^*)₂)(CO)(PMe₃)) undergo irreversible thermal isomerization to the corresponding η²-iminoacyl-carbonyl derivatives {MO}(η²-C(NR′)R)(CO). This isomerization reaction follows first-order kinetics.     

氧化铝负载氮化镍钼的制备及其加氢精制性能研究

采用程序升温还原法制备氧化铝载体负载的氮化镍钼。采用XRD、BET、H₂-TPR和XPS等表征方法对氮化物的理化性质进行研究;并以噻吩和四氢萘的环己烷溶液为原料,考察氮化物作为加氢催化剂的加氢精制性能。实验结果表明,制备的负载型氮化镍钼中氮化物的晶型为Ni₂Mo₃N;H₂-TPR表明,氮化镍钼表面钝化层的还原温度为200℃~400℃;氮化物表面Mo离子存在Mo⁶⁺、Mo⁴⁺、Mo^δ+离子,Mo^δ+离子占多数。氧化铝负载氮化镍钼具有较好的加氢脱硫初始活性和稳定性;原料中不含硫时,催化剂的加氢脱芳初始活性较好,但加氢脱芳稳定性差,原料中硫的引入加速了催化剂加氢脱芳活性的失活。     

石墨型氮化碳对氨硼烷放氢性能的影响

利用石墨型氮化碳(C₃N₄)和氨硼烷(NH₃BH₃,AB)球磨制备了AB-C₃N₄体系,发现C₃N₄的加入使AB放氢反应温度明显降低,但是副产物氨气浓度有所升高. 因此,利用LiBH₄改性的C₃N₄(LC₃N₄)同AB球磨合成出了AB-LC₃N₄体系,并采用X射线衍射、程序升温脱附-质谱联用、热重-差热分析及核磁共振等技术考察了该体系的脱氢性能. 结果表明,由于LC₃N₄的加入,AB的放氢反应温度明显降低,放氢反应速率加快,放氢诱导期缩短,同时抑制了副产物无机苯的生成. 另外,C₃N₄的化学修饰也降低了AB-LC₃N₄放氢过程中生成氨气的浓度. 动力学分析和核磁共振结果表明,AB-LC₃N₄分解过程依然遵循NH₃BH₂NH₃BH₄诱导的氨硼烷自分解机理.     

Pechini synthesis and characterization of molybdenum carbide and nickel molybdenum carbide

Carbides, such as η-Ni₆Mo₆C, are considered as low-cost substitutes for noble metal catalysts for present applications in hydrodesulfurization and for a possible future sulfur-tolerant fuel cell anode catalyst. Most synthesis methods set the carbon content of the carbides by a carbon-based atmosphere or solid carbon in the synthesis. We show here that β-Mo₂C and η-Ni₆Mo₆C can be synthesized using a Pechini process, simply by heating metal acetates mixed with citric acid and ethylene glycol in one step under H₂ with the only source of carbon being the precursor solution. The β-Mo₂C forms when heating a Mo-acetate precursor at 850 °C. When using Ni- and Mo-acetates, β-Mo₂C forms at 700 °C and lower temperatures, while η-Ni₆Mo₆C forms during heating at 800-900 °C. The η-Ni₆Mo₆C has a surface area of 95.5 m² g⁻¹ and less than 10 m² g⁻¹ when prepared at 800 and 900 °C, respectively. Some Ni₃C, Ni, and NiC impurities are also present in the nanostructured η-Ni₆Mo₆C that was prepared at 900 °C. The η-Ni₆Mo₆C materials made by the Pechini process are compared with those made from a traditional synthesis, using metal organic precursors at 1000 °C under CO/CO₂ mixtures with a carbon activity of 0.011. Our results imply that H₂ and the Pechini process can be used to achieve carbon activities similar to those obtained by methods using gaseous or solid carbon sources.     

One-step synthesis of dispersed bimetallic carbides and nitrides from transition metals hexamethylenetetramine complexes

Bimetallic nitrides and carbides Co(Ni)-Mo were obtained from the decomposition of transition metals complexes with hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) under inert atmosphere. The precursor complexes were prepared by means of aqueous precipitation of ammonium molybdate with cobalt nitrate or nickel nitrate and HMTA. During the decomposition, HMTA acts at once as a reducing agent and as a source of carbon and nitrogen. The precursor's composition and the decomposition conditions are the key parameters to influence the nature of the obtained phases. The method developed provides a simple one-step way to highly divided bimetallic nitrides and carbides.     

氧化铈负载钌催化剂中钌表面密度对氨合成活性和氢中毒的影响

氨是关系国计民生的大宗化学品,也是氢能源的重要载体.目前,世界合成氨工业每年消耗约2％的世界总能源,并排放超过1％的CO2,节能降耗需求十分迫切,其中的关键在于高性能氨合成催化剂的开发.传统观点认为,B5活性位是钌催化剂上氮解离和氨合成的活性位,当钌粒子尺寸在1.8～2.5 nm时催化剂的B5活性位数量最多,而钌尺寸较小(0.7～0.8 nm)的催化剂几乎没有氨合成活性.本文通过改变钌负载量调变了氧化铈负载钌催化剂的钌表面浓度,证实钌粒子尺寸低于2.0nm时,氧化铈负载钌催化剂也具有较高的氨合成活性.XPS等表征结果证实:钌表面密度低于0.68 Ru nm-2时,钌主要以层状形式存在于氧化铈表面,层状钌与氧化铈紧密接触,电子从氧化铈的缺陷位传递给钌物种,在这种情况下,Ru 3d5/2的结合能有所下降,氮解离能力增强,这有利于提高催化剂的氨合成活性;当钌表面密度约为0.68 Ru nm-2时,钌金属传递电子给氧化铈,此时Ru 3d5/2结合能有所增加;当钌表面密度高于1.4 Ru nm-2后,钌物种优先在层状钌表面聚集成大尺寸钌纳米粒子,此时催化剂中同时存在钌团簇和钌纳米粒子,氧化铈载体对钌粒子电子性质的影响减弱,因此大尺寸钌金属颗粒Ru 3d5/2结合能又有所下降.另一方面,氢分子会在氧化铈表面形成均裂产物(两个OH基团)或异裂产物(Ce-H和OH).同时氢分子还会在0价钌金属表面解离形成氢原子,并进一步溢流到氧化铈表面与氧原子作用形成羟基.钌活性位上的氢物种比氧化铈中的氢更容易脱附,因此氧化铈中钌的存在不仅可以增强其氢吸附量,还降低了氢物种的吸附强度.当钌表面密度低时,氧化铈与钌的相互作用较强,催化剂中的氢物种容易溢流到氧化铈中形成羟基基团,此时催化剂的氢吸附能力增强,氢中毒问题较显著.当钌表面密度较高时,氢原子在大尺寸钌颗粒上移动、反应和脱附,因此催化剂的氢中毒问题也得到显著缓解.总之,对于氧化铈负载钌催化剂,氧化铈与钌金属之间的电子相互作用以及其吸附性质都会影响催化剂的氨合成活性,因此钌表面密度低于0.31 Ru nm-2以及约为2.1 Ru nm-2时,催化剂都展现出了较高的氨合成活性.本文将为设计制备高性能钌基氨合成催化剂提供理论指导.     

The synthesis of transition metal nitrides via thermolysis of metal-ammine complexes, Part I: Chromium nitride

The thermal decomposition of a CrN precursor, hexaammine chromium(II) chloride, in ammonia has been investigated via a combination of thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Upon heating, [Cr(NH₃)₆]Cl₂ sequentially loses ammonia ligands, ultimately forming CrCl₂·NH₃ at ∼400 °C. When heat-treated to 500 °C in ammonia, this compound ammonolyzes to form nanocrystalline CrN.     

Microwave mediated reduction of heterocycle and fluorine containing nitroaromatics with Mo(CO)6 and DBU

Heterocycle containing nitroaromatics were reduced by Mo(CO)₆ and DBU in EtOH under microwave irradiation within 15 min. Under the same conditions, 4-fluoronitrobenzene was reduced to 4-fluoroaniline, whereas 2-chloro-1-fluoro-4-nitrobenzene afforded a mixture of 3-chloro-4-fluoroaniline and 3-chloro-4-ethoxyaniline. The extent of the competing S_NAr/reduction process could be influenced by the nature of the solvent, with t-BuOH the inert solvent of choice. The latter was used as solvent for S_NAr/reductions of 2-chloro-1-fluoro-4-nitrobenzene with S-nucleophiles to yield 3-chloro-4-mercaptoanilines.     

Impact of graphitic carbon nitrides synthesized from different precursors on Schottky junction characteristics

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) has gained wide interest in many areas, such as energy and the environmental remediation as a layered polymeric semiconductor that allows the formation of catalytically active Schottky junctions due to its proper electronic band structure. Interestingly, although it is known that the precursors used in the synthesis, can influence the properties of the g-CN, no detailed study on these effects on Schottky junctions could be found in the literature. In this research, the effects of g-CNs synthesized by thermal polycondensation of different precursors on the photocatalytic efficiency of Schottky junctions were investigated. For this purpose, urea, thiourea, melamine, and guanidine hydrochloride were used as different precursors, while the photocatalytic dehydrogenation of formic acid was used as a test reaction. The Schottky junctions were formed by decorating the as-prepared g-CNs with AgPd alloy nanoparticles (NP), which were synthesized by reduction of Ag and Pd salts with NaBH₄. The structural, electronic and charge carrier dynamics of all prepared structures have been fully characterized by TEM, XRD, BET, XPS, UV-Vis DRS, PL, and PL life measurements. The results showed that the charge transfer dynamics of g-CNs surface defects are more effective in the photocatalytic performance of Schottky junctions than in structural features such as the size of the metal NPs or the surface area of the catalysts.     

Spectrophotometric determination of molybdenum based on charge transfer complexes sensitized by copper(II)

A new high sensitive spectrophotometric determination of trace molybdenum was investigated. The sensitivity of the determination of molybdenum, which based on the color charge transfer complex of molybdotungstophosphate-3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine, was greatly enhanced by copper(II) ions in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol. The improved method maintained the features of simplicity, rapidity and selectivity, especially eliminating the interference from tungsten. Under the optimum conditions, Beer's law was obeyed over the range from 2 to 32 ng ml⁻¹ molybdenum with molar absorptivity being 4.92×10⁵ l mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at 660 nm. The relative standard deviation was 1.2% under nine determinations for 16 ng ml⁻¹ Mo(VI). The present method had been applied to the determination of trace molybdenum in tungsten ores with satisfactory results.     

Studies directed toward the synthesis of chiral tungsten and molybdenum carbonyl complexes

A major challenge that must be met for an asymmetric intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction is to be able to limit the possible positions on the metal complex for the organic partners. Toward this end, the synthesis of monometallic systems derived from M(CO)₆ and two bidentate ligands, in which the number of possible coordination sites is reduced to two, has been investigated.     

Atomic layer deposition of crystalline molybdenum oxide thin films and phase control by post-deposition annealing

Molybdenum forms a range of oxides with different stoichiometries and crystal structures, which lead to different properties and performance in diverse applications. Herein, crystalline molybdenum oxide thin films with controlled phase composition are deposited by atomic layer deposition. The MoO₂(thd)₂ and O₃ as precursors enable well-controlled growth of uniform and conformal films at 200–275 °C. The as-deposited films are rough and, in most cases, consist of a mixture of α- and β-MoO₃ as well as an unidentified suboxide MoO_x (2.75 ≤ x ≤ 2.89) phase. The phase composition can be tuned by changing deposition conditions. The film stoichiometry is close to MoO₃ and the films are relatively pure, the main impurity being hydrogen (2–7 at-%), with ≤1 at-% of carbon and nitrogen. Post-deposition annealing is studied in situ by high-temperature X-ray diffraction in air, O₂, N₂, and forming gas (10% H₂/90% N₂) atmospheres. Phase-pure films of MoO₂ and α-MoO₃ are obtained by annealing at 450 °C in forming gas and O₂, respectively. The ability to tailor the phase composition of MoO_x films deposited by scalable atomic layer deposition method represents an important step towards various applications of molybdenum oxides.     

Relationship between ammonia sensing properties of polyaniline nanostructures and their deposition and synthesis methods

The ammonia absorption properties of polyaniline nanostructures are studied in terms of sensitivity, response and recovery times and stability. These characteristics are obtained by measuring, at room temperature, the absorbance variations at 632 nm. The nanostructures are synthesized either by interfacial or rapid or dropwise polymerizations with the oxidant-to-monomer mole ratio equals to 0.5 or 1. The influence of the deposition method (in-situ or drop-coating technique) as well as the nature of the dopant (HCl, CSA or I₂) on the gas detection properties are also studied. The results show a strong dependence of the morphology on the deposition method, the in-situ technique leads to the best sensitivity and response time. For this deposition method, the nanostructures sensitivity, response time and regeneration rate depend on the synthesis method, the dopant and the mole ratio. The ageing effect after 8 months under ambient conditions and the mechanism of interaction between the polyaniline nanostructures and ammonia molecules are also presented.     

铁基费托合成催化剂相变调控及反应性能

在Fe基模型催化剂上,通过先深度还原后控制碳化的方法实现了物相结构的调控.采用X射线衍射、穆斯堡尔谱、程序升温脱附技术和激光拉曼光谱等方法表征了催化剂还原和反应前后的物化性质,并在固定床反应器中考察了不同条件活化后催化剂上费托反应性能.结果表明,H₂还原后的催化剂主要由α-Fe相组成,且随着还原温度的提高,α-Fe相的致密程度增加,平均晶粒尺寸增加,稳定性提高;再采用乙烯对H₂还原后催化剂进行碳化,可有效控制α-Fe的碳化速度,使碳化过程主要发生在Fe晶粒表层,同时改变了催化剂在反应过程中的物相变化,乃至其催化性能.与纯H₂或合成气气氛活化的催化剂相比,采用先H₂还原后乙烯碳化的预处理方法能够明显提高催化剂的活性和稳定性.     

Chemoselective reductive alkylation of ammonia with carbonyl compounds: synthesis of primary and symmetrical secondary amines

An efficient, general procedure for highly chemoselective reductive mono-alkylation of ammonia with ketones is reported. Treatment of ketones with ammonia in ethanol and titanium(IV) isopropoxide, followed by in situ sodium borohydride reduction, and a straightforward workup afforded primary amines in good to excellent yields. Reductive alkylation of ammonia with aldehydes, on the other hand, afforded the corresponding symmetrical secondary amines selectively.     

Synthesis and ROMP activity of aminophenol-substituted tungsten(VI) and molybdenum(VI) complexes

Tungsten(VI) and molybdenum(VI) complexes [MO(L¹)Cl₂] and [M(X)(L²)Cl₃] (X = O, NPh) with tridentate aminobis(phenolate) ligand L¹ = methylamino-N,N-bis(2-methylene-4,6-dimethylphenolate) and bidentate aminophenolate ligand L² = 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-((dimethylamino)methyl)phenolate) were prepared and characterised. These complexes are principally stable in open atmosphere under ambient conditions. When activated with Et₂AlCl, they exhibited high activity in ring-opening metathesis polymerisation (ROMP) of 2-norbornene (NBE) and its derivatives. Especially complexes [M(NPh)(L²)Cl₃], which are easily available from corresponding metal oxides MO₃ by a simple three-step synthesis, were found very efficient ROMP catalysts for NBE (M = Mo, W) and 2-norbornen-5-yl acetate (M = Mo).