Self-Assembled Nano-Filamentous Zeolite Catalyst to Realize Efficient One-Step Ethanol Synthesis

The non-petroleum synthesis route of ethanol from syngas (H₂+CO) with methyl acetate (MA) as the core intermediate product has been confirmed as an excellent industrialization route for high purity ethanol production. However, as the central part of this tandem-catalysis path, the carbonylation of dimethyl ether (DME) to MA is limited by the undesirable catalytic activity and stability of zeolite catalysts. Herein, a facile inhibitor-assisted strategy was developed for constructing self-assembled nano-Mordenite (nano-MOR) zeolites without using any expensive or complex template. A nano-filamentous MOR zeolite with only 70 nm crystal diameter was successfully synthesized by selectively controlling the crystal growth orientation with a specific inhibitor. The catalytic performance of self-assembled nano-MOR catalysts was remarkably outstanding in DME carbonylation reaction. The highest Space-Time Yield (STY) of MA was achieved over Nanofilament MOR (NF-MOR), which was significantly improved comparing with that of the traditional Ellipsoid-MOR (ES-MOR) [3780 mmol/(kg ⋅ h) vs. 1368 mmol/(kg ⋅ h)]. One-step ethanol synthesis was realized by combining the MOR catalyst and an innovative self-reduced Cu-ZnO/SiO₂ (CZ/SiO₂) catalyst in a rationally designed dual-bed catalysis system. Adopting the tailor-made NF-MOR&CZ/SiO₂ combination, it obtained the highest STY of ethanol, about 4 times of the conventional ES-MOR&CZ combination [1800 mmol/(kg ⋅ h) vs. 476 mmol/(kg ⋅ h)]. The present self-assembled nano-MOR zeolites synthetic strategy opens a new way for the fabrication of high-performance zeolites for practical industrial applications in catalytic conversions of one-carbon (C1) small molecules to high value-added chemicals.     

Asymmetric induction in an intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition within chirally modified zeolite supercages

Photoirradiation of 1-cyano-2-(5-methyl-2-oxa-4-hexenyl)naphthalene, included in NaY zeolites along with chiral inductors, such as diethyl tartrate or phenylalaninol, gives an intramolecular [2+2] photocycloadduct with a maximum 15% ee. The degree of enantioselectivity was found to depend on the Si/Al ratio, the nature of the cations in the zeolites, the structure of the chiral inductors, and the molar ratio of substrate and chiral inductors.     

Characterization of 6FDA‐based hyperbranched and linear polyimide–silica hybrid membranes by gas permeation and 129Xe NMR measurements

Physical and gas transport properties of novel hyperbranched polyimide–silica hybrid membranes were investigated and compared with those of linear‐type polyimide–silica hybrid membranes with similar chemical structures. Hyperbranched polyamic acid, as a precursor, was prepared by polycondensation of a triamine, 1,3,5‐tris(4‐aminophenoxy)benzene (TAPOB), and a dianhydride, 4,4′‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA). 6FDA‐TAPOB hyperbranched polyimide–silica hybrids were prepared using the polyamic acid, water, and tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) by sol–gel reaction. 5% weight‐loss temperature of the 6FDA‐TAPOB hyperbranched polyimide–silica hybrids determined by TG‐DTA measurement considerably increased with increasing silica content, indicating effective crosslinking at polymer–silica interface. CO₂, O₂, N₂, and CH₄ permeability coefficients of the 6FDA‐based polyimide–silica hybrids increased with increasing silica content. In addition, CO₂/CH₄ selectivity of the 6FDA‐TAPOB–silica hybrids remarkably increased with increasing silica content. From ¹²⁹Xe NMR analysis, characteristic distribution and interconnectivity of cavities created around polymer–silica interface were suggested in the 6FDA‐TAPOB–silica hybrids. It was indicated that size‐selective separation ability is effectively brought by the incorporation of silica for the 6FDA‐TAPOB hyperbranched polyimide–silica hybrid membranes. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 291–298, 2006     

Novel Synthesis of a Macromonomer Having Organosilyl and Amino Groups

Abstract

Reaction between dimethyldivinylsilane (1) and N,N′-diethyl-N-lithio-ethylenediamine (2a) in the presence of N,N′-diethylethylenediamine (3a) in THF at 20°C gave a monoadduct, 3,3-dimethyl-6-ethyl-3-sila-6,9-diaza-1-undecene (4a). An anionic self-polyaddition reaction of 4a in the presence of lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) proceeded to form oligomers. Each of the oligomers thus obtained was found to carry a polymerizable vinylsilane moiety at the oligomer chain terminal. As a result, a new type of macromonomer having alternating repeating units of ethylenediamine and organosilyl groups was synthesized. Acid-base titration showed the macromonomer to have unique characteristics on protonation of diamine moieties. Anionic polyaddition reactions between 1 and N-lithio-piperazine (2b) in the presence of piperazine (3b) also gave a macromonomer consisting of alternating repeating units of piperazine and organosilyl groups (4b). Radical copolymerizations of styrene with 5b gave comblike graft copolymers.     

Reversible redox reaction and water configuration on a positively charged platinum surface: first principles molecular dynamics simulation

The water dissociation reaction and water molecule configuration on a positively charged platinum (111) surface were investigated by means of first principles molecular dynamics under periodic boundary conditions. Water molecules on the Pt surface were mostly in the O-down orientation but some H-down structures were also found. OH(-) ion, generated by removing H from H(2)O in the bulk region, moved to the Pt surface, on which a positive charge is induced, by a Grotthuss-like proton-relay mechanism and adsorbed on it as OH(Pt). Hydrogen atom exchange between OH(Pt) and a near-by water molecule frequently occurred on the Pt surface and had a low activation energy of the same order as room temperature energy. When a positive charge (7 μC cm(-2)) was added to the Pt surface, H(3)O(+) and OH(Pt) were generated from 2H(2)O on the Pt. This may be coupled with an electron transfer to the Pt electrode [2H(2)O → H(3)O(+) + OH(Pt) + e(-)]. The opposite reaction was also observed on the same charged surface during a simulation of duration about 10 ps; it is a reversible redox reaction. When further positive charge (14 μC cm(-2)) was added, the reaction shifted to the right hand side completely. Thus, this one-electron transfer reaction, which is a part of the oxygen electrode reaction in fuel cells and water electrolysis, was confirmed to be a low activation energy process.     

Synthesis and properties of fully conjugated macrocycles composed of m-diethynylene-phenylene-bridged two dibenzofuran,dibenzothiophene and carbazole units

Fully conjugated macrocycles 1a?1c composed of m-diethynylene-phenylene-bridged two dibenzofuran, dibenzothiophene and carbazole units were synthesized via Sonogashira cross coupling reactions under high-diluted condition. These conjugated macrocycles were fully characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, Mass spectroscopies and elemental analysis. Photophysical and redox properties of 1a?1c were investigated by means of UV–vis/fluorescence spectroscopies and cyclic voltammetry, respectively, and those features were compared with those of the corresponding linear phenylethynyldibenzoheterols 11a?11c. Furthermore, their structural and electronic insights were studied by theoretical calculations at the B3LYP/cc-pVDZ//B3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory.     

Planar-waveguide quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic-generation device in Y-cut MgO-doped LiNbO3

We designed a planar-waveguide quasi-phase-matched second-harmonic-generation device, which consists of a Y-cut periodically poled 5 mol.% MgO-doped LiNbO3 core and SiO2 claddings, that provided a 1.08 W green light with 30% conversion efficiency by using a 7 mm long sample at room temperature. The highest conversion efficiency of 49% at 0.88 W second-harmonic generation was attained by using an 18 mm long device.