Fe(II) hydrolysis in aqueous solution: A DFT study

Species arising from Fe(II) hydrolysis in aqueous solution have been investigated using density-functional methods (DFT). The different tautomers and multiplicities of each species have been calculated. The solvation energy has been estimated using the UAHF–PCM method. The hydrolysis free energies have been estimated and compared with the available experimental data. The different hydrolysis species have distinct geometries and electronic structures. The estimated ionization potential of the hydrolyzed species is linearly dependent to the number of hydroxyls present in the complex. The estimated Fe(II)/Fe(III) oxidation potential is in good agreement with previously published results about 0.29 V larger than the experimental value. The results highlight the importance of the chemical speciation in describing electron transfer processes at a molecular level. The PBE/TZVP/UAHF–PCM method has been found to describe correctly the hydrolysis free energies of Fe(II) with an average error about 5 kcal mol⁻¹ from the experimental values.     

A Bifunctional Pd/MgO Solid Catalyst for the One‐Pot Selective N‐Monoalkylation of Amines with Alcohols

It has been found that a bifunctional metal Pd/base (MgO) catalyst performs the selective monoalkylation of amines with alcohols. The reaction goes through a series of consecutive steps in a cascade mode that involves: 1) the abstraction of hydrogen from the alcohol that produces the metal hydride and the carbonyl compound; 2) condensation of the carbonyl with the amine to give an imine, and 3) hydrogenation of the imine with the surface hydrogen atoms from the metal hydride. Based on isotopic and spectroscopic studies and on the rate of each elementary step, a global reaction mechanism has been proposed. The controlling step of the process is the hydride transfer from the metal to the imine. By changing the crystallite size of the Pd, it is demonstrated that this is a structure‐sensitive reaction, whereas the competing processes that lead to subproducts are not. On these bases, a highly selective catalyst has been obtained with Pd crystallite size below 2.5 nm in diameter. The high efficiency of the catalytic system has allowed us to extend the process to the one‐pot synthesis of piperazines.     

Photovoltaic activity of Ti/MCM‐41

Ti/MCM‐41 is a well‐known heterogeneous catalyst for alkene epoxidation with organic peroxides. This titanosilicate contains isolated titanium atoms forming part of a framework of mesoporous silica whose structure is formed by parallel hexagonal channels 3.2 nm in diameter. The surface area and porosity of Ti/MCM‐41 are about 880 m² g^?1 and 0.70 cm³ g^?1, respectively. These values are among the highest for any material. Herein, we show that Ti/MCM‐41 exhibits photovoltaic activity. Dye‐sensitized solar cells using mesoporous Ti/MCM‐41 (2.8–5.7 % Ti content) as active layer, black dye N3 as photosensitizer and I₃^?/I^? in methoxyacetonitrile as electrolyte exhibit a V_OC, J_SC and FF of 0.44 V, 0.045 mA cm^?2 and 0.33, respectively. These values compare well against 0.75 V, 4.1 mA cm^?2 and 0.64, respectively, measured for analogous solar cells using conventional P‐25 TiO₂. However, the specific current density (J_SC/Ti atom) for the Ti/MCM‐41 is very similar to that of P25 TiO₂.     

Direct Synthesis of a Photoactive Inorganic–Organic Mesostructured Hybrid Material and its Application as a Photocatalyst

A direct route : Silylated triphenylmethanol is incorporated into mesoporous material MCM‐41 through a direct synthesis method. Under acidic conditions, this inorganic–organic hybrid generates trityl cations to give the photoactive material Tyl‐MCM41. Tyl‐MCM41 promotes the photosensitized dimerization of 1,3‐cyclohexadiene with an unprecedented selectivity towards the formation of the exo product (see scheme).

     

P-derived organic cations as structure-directing agents: synthesis of a high-silica zeolite (ITQ-27) with a two-dimensional 12-ring channel system

Recently, efforts have been made to synthesize large-pore, multidimensional zeolite frameworks as a basis for new catalysts to improve various hydrocarbon conversions. A new aluminosilicate zeolite, ITQ-27, has been prepared using the phosphorus-containing structure-directing agent, dimethyldiphenylphosphonium. Its crystal structure was determined in its calcined form by direct methods (FOCUS) on synchrotron powder diffraction data (lambda = 0.8702 A) after the unit cell and space group were determined from tilt electron diffraction experiments on individual microcrystals. The material crystallizes in space group Fmmm, where a = 27.7508(5) A, b = 25.2969(7) A, and c = 13.7923(4) A. The final model, refined by Rietveld methods, comprises seven unique T-sites forming a framework with straight 12-MR channels that are connected by 14-MR openings between them. (Corresponding 12-ring pore dimension is 6.94 A x 6.20 A.) Since access from one 14-MR opening to the next is through the 12-MR channel, the structure is best described as a two-dimensional, 12-MR framework.     

Multifunctional hybrid organic-inorganic catalytic materials with a hierarchical system of well-defined micro- and mesopores

Novel layered zeolitic organic-inorganic materials (MWW-BTEB) have been synthesized by intercalation and stabilization of arylic silsesquioxane molecules between inorganic zeolitic MWW layers. The organic linkers are conformed by two condensed silyl-arylic groups from disilane molecules, such as 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene (BTEB), which react with the external silanol groups of the zeolitic layers. The hybrids contain micropores within the inorganic layers and a well-defined mesoporous system in between the organic linkers. An amination post-treatment introduces basic groups in the organic linkers close to the acid sites present in the structural inorganic counterpart. Through this methodology it has been possible to prepare bifunctional acid-base catalysts where the acid sites are of zeolitic nature located in the inorganic building blocks and the basic sites are part of the organic structure. The resultant materials can act as bifunctional catalysts for performing a two-step cascade reaction that involves the catalytic conversion of benzaldehyde dimethylacetal into benzylidene malononitrile.     

Mechanism of the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley-Oppenauer (MPVO) redox equilibrium on Sn- and Zr-beta zeolite catalysts

The mechanism of the Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reduction of cyclohexanone with 2-butanol catalyzed by Sn-beta and Zr-beta zeolites has been theoretically investigated using density functional theory (DFT) and the cluster approach. An experimental catalytic study has shown that the active sites in the MPV reaction catalyzed by Sn-beta are the same partially hydrolyzed Sn-OH groups that were found to be active for the Baeyer-Villiger (BV) reaction. The computational study indicates that the mechanism of Sn-beta and Zr-beta catalysis is similar, and involves the following steps: adsorption of both the ketone and the alcohol on the Lewis acid center, deprotonation of the alcohol, carbon-to-carbon hydride transfer, proton transfer from the catalyst, and products exchange. As in the aluminum alkoxide catalyzed reaction, the hydride shift occurs through a six-membered transition state, and the role of the hydrolyzed and therefore more flexible M-OH bond is just to facilitate the initial deprotonation of the alcohol.