Acidity of heteropoly acids with various structures and compositions studied by IR spectroscopy of the pyridinium salts

The acidity on the proton affinity scale was determined by IR spectroscopy of the pyridinium salts for nineteen heteropoly acids of nine structural types (including two with the previously unknown structure) and one isopoly acid. All heteropoly acids exhibited a high acidity at the level of CF₃SO₃H and HClO₄. H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ was the strongest acid.     

First isolated active titanium peroxo complex: characterization and theoretical study

The protonated titanium peroxo complex [Bu(4)N](4)[HPTi(O(2))W(11)O(39)] (1) has been first prepared via interaction of the micro-oxo dimeric heteropolytungstate [Bu(4)N](8)[(PTiW(11)O(39))(2)O] (3) with an excess of 30% aqueous H(2)O(2) in MeCN. Peroxo complex 1 has been characterized by using elemental analysis, UV-vis, IR, resonance Raman (RR), (31)P and (183)W NMR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and potentiometric titration. The electronic and vibrational spectra of 1 are very similar to those of the well-known unprotonated titanium peroxo complex [Bu(4)N](5)[PTi(O(2))W(11)O(39)] (2), while (31)P and (183)W NMR spectra differ significantly. A compilation of the physicochemical techniques supports a monomeric Keggin type structure of 1 bearing one peroxo ligand attached to Ti(IV) in a eta(2)-coordination mode. The protonation of the titanium peroxo complex results in an increase of the redox potential of the peroxo group, E(1/2) = 1.25 and 0.88 V relative to Ag/AgCl reference electrode for 1 and 2, respectively. In contrast to 2, 1 readily reacts with 2,3,6-trimethylphenol (TMP) at 40 degrees C in MeCN to give 2,2',3,3',5,5'-hexamethyl-4,4'-biphenol (BP) and 2,3,5-trimethyl-p-benzoquinone (TMBQ). The proportion between BP and TMBQ in the reaction products depends on the TMP/1 ratio. When a 2-fold excess of TMP is used, the main reaction product is BP (90%), while using a 2-fold excess of 1 leads to TMBQ (95%). On the basis of the product study, a homolytic oxidation mechanism that implicates the formation of phenoxyl radicals is suggested. The RR deuterium labeling experiments show that the activating proton is most likely localized at a Ti-O-W bridging oxygen rather than at the peroxo group. Theoretical calculations carried out at the DFT level on the protonated and unprotonated titanium peroxo derivatives also propose that the most stable complex is formed preferentially after protonation of the Ti-O-W site; however, both Ti-OH-W and TiOO-H protonated anions could coexist in solution.     

Scientific Bases for the Synthesis of Highly Dispersed Framework Zirconium Phosphate Catalysts for Paraffin Isomerization and Selective Oxidation

Results of the systematic study of the synthesis of highly dispersed framework zirconium phosphates stabilized by ammonium, lanthanum, aluminum, manganese, and cobalt cations are summarized. The synthesis involves the mechanochemical activation of a mixture of solid reactants (salts) or the sol–gel process each followed by the hydrothermal treatment (HTT) of obtained precursors in the presence of surfactants. The genesis of dispersed systems under investigation is studied by modern physical methods providing information on the state of the bulk and surface of the systems. It is found that the local structure of sol nanoparticles and zirconium phosphate crystalline nuclei arising from mechanochemical activation products depends on the nature of initial substances. This, in its turn, makes different crystallization mechanisms possible during the HTT process: the dissolution/precipitation mechanism or the mechanism of oriented mating of primary particles. The crystallization mechanism in HTT and the reaction system composition influence the nature of resulting complex zirconium phosphate phases, their thermal stability, dispersity, and porous structure parameters. The relationship between the bulk structure parameters of framework zirconium phosphates, which are controlled by varying the chemical composition and conditions of synthesis, and the surface characteristics of the systems (the strength and concentration of different Lewis and Br@nsted sites) is studied. It is shown that systems based on framework zirconium phosphates are promising catalysts for paraffin (pentane and hexane) isomerization, the selective oxidation of methane by oxygen into synthesis gas at short contact times, and the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane into propylene.     

SR-beam investigations of ultradispersed silver obtained by shock-wave synthesis under cryogenic conditions

Results from studying ultradispersed silver samples obtained using the shock-wave approach, both in liquid nitrogen and at normal temperatures, are described. Some possible initial substances for such synthesis techniques are considered and a circuit for an immunosensor based on coupled charge devices is proposed.     

17O and 183W NMR studies of the paratungstate anions in aqueous solutions

¹⁷O (40.7 MHz) and ¹⁸³W (12.5 MHz) NMR spectra of aqueous Na₁₀[H₂W₁₂O₄₂]·27H₂O (1), Na₆[W₇O₂₄]·14H₂O (2) and (NH₄)₆[Mo₇O₂₄]·nH₂O solutions, as well as of 2, 1 and 0.1 M Na₂WO₄ and 2 M Li₂WO₄ solutions acidified up to P = 0.5, 1 and 1.14 have been measured. The composition of the W₇O₂₄^6? anion remains unchanged (2), its structure being similar to that of Mo₇O₂₄^6?183W NMR spectrum shows three resonances with the chemical shifts + 269.2, ?98.8 and ?178.9 ppm relative to WO₄^2? and intensity ratio 1:4:2. “Paratungstate A” produced during polycondensation of WO₄^2? at P ? 1.17 is identical with heptatungstate W₇O₂₄^6?. The [H₂W₁₂O₄₂]^10?183W NMR spectrum in the acidified 2 M Li₂WO₄ solution has four resonances with the chemical shifts in the range - 105–145 ppm and intensity ratio 1:2:1:2. As suggested by NMR data, the H₂W₁₂O₄₂^10? ? W₇O₂₄^6? transformations occur, which depend upon concentration and temperature.     

Thermal transformations of α-H6P2Mo18O62·nH2O heteropolyacid

According to the ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, heteropolyacid (HPA) H₆P₂Mo₁₈O₆₂·nH₂O (P₂Mo₁₈), -isomer of the Dawson structure, transforms upon heating above 80 °C partially (up to 30%) to -isomer, in which both polar groups Mo₃O₁₃ of the heteropolyanion are turned by 60° around the N₃ axis, and partially to -isomer in which only one group is turned. The - and -isomers of P₂Mo₁₈ have been found for the first time. Their transformation into the -isomer occurs upon rehydration in one week in air and in 1 h in an aqueous solution. HPA P₂Mo₁₈ decomposes on heating up to 350 °C to HPA H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀ (PMo₁₂) and a previously unknown phase of the HPMo₆I₂₁ composition, which in its turn decomposes at 375 °C to molybdenyl phosphates and IiI₃. The PMo₁₂ decomposition occurs via two routes to form the same products at temperatures of 400 and 450 °C with corresponding exotherms of IiI₃ crystallization.     

A dimeric titanium-containing polyoxometalate. Synthesis, characterization, and catalysis of H2O2-based thioether oxidation

The previously unknown titanium(IV)-containing mu-hydroxo dimeric heteropolytungstate (Bu4N)7[(PTiW11O39)2-OH] (TBA salt of H1) has been synthesized, starting from H5PTiW11O40, and characterized by elemental analysis, multinuclear (31P, 17O, 183W) NMR, IR, FAB-MS, cyclic voltammetry, and potentiometric titration. 31P NMR reveals that H1 (delta -12.76) readily forms in MeCN from the Keggin monomer (POM), PTiW11O40(5-) (2, delta -13.34), upon the addition of 1.5 equiv of H+, via the protonated species, P(TiOH)W11O39(4-) (H2, delta -13.44). The ratio of H1, 2, and H2, which are present in equilibrium in MeCN solution at 25 degrees C, depends on the concentration of both H+ and H2O. The Ti-O-Ti linkage readily reacts with nucleophilic reagents, such as H2O and ROH, to yield monomeric Keggin derivatives. mu-Hydroxo dimer H1 shows higher catalytic activity than 2 for thioether oxidation by hydrogen peroxide in acetonitrile. The reaction proceeds readily at room temperature and affords the corresponding sulfoxide and sulfone in ca. quantitative yield. The addition of H2O2 to H1 or H2 results in the formation of a peroxo complex, most likely the hydroperoxo complex P(TiOOH)W11O39(4-) (I), which has 31P NMR resonance at -12.43 ppm. The rate of the formation of I is higher from H2 than from H1. When H1 is used as a catalyst precursor, the rates of the thioether oxidation and peroxo complex formation increase with increasing H2O concentration, which favors the cleavage of H1 to H2. H2O2 in MeCN slowly converts 2 to another peroxotitanium complex, P(TiO2)W11O39(5-) (II), which has 31P NMR resonance at -12.98 ppm. Peroxo complexes I and II differ in their protonation state and interconvert fast on the 31P NMR time scale. Addition of 1 equiv of H+ completely converts II to I, while 1 equiv of OH- completely converts I to II. 31P NMR confirms that I is stable under turnover conditions (thioether, H2O2, MeCN). Contrary to two-phase systems such as dichloroethane/aqueous H2O2, no products resulting from the destruction of the Keggin POM were detected in MeCN in the presence of H2O2 (a 500-fold molar excess). The reactivity of I, generated in situ from II by adding 1 equiv of H+, toward organic sulfides under stoichiometric conditions was confirmed using both 31P NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy. This is a rare demonstration of the direct stoichiometric oxidation of an organic substrate by a titanium peroxo complex.     

NMR studies of heteropolyanion [P(2)W(20)O(70)(H2O)2](-10) complexes with metal cations

We have used multinuclear NMR and IR spectroscopy to study the interaction of a number of metal cations with monovacant heteropolyanion [P(2)W(20)O(7)(0)(H(2)O)(2)](10)(-) (P(2)W(20)) in aqueous solutions starting from its K salt. We have also prepared and studied P(2)W(20) in an Na-only medium. The observed differences in the NMR spectra of NaP(2)W(20)and KP(2)W(20)solutions and the importance of K(+) and Na(+) for the formation of P(2)W(20) suggest that this polyanion exists only as a complex with the alkaline cations. When both cations were simultaneously present in solution, we observed the broadening of the NMR signals of P(2)W(20)due to the Na-K exchange. Li(+) does not replace K(+) or Na(+) in such complexes, and in an Li-only medium P(2)W(20) does not form. Of all the M(n)(+) cations studied (Pd(2+), Bi(3+), Sn(4+), Zr(4+), Ce(4+), Ti(4+), V(5+), and Mo(6+)) only Bi(3+), Sn(4+), and Ce(4+) form complexes with P(2)W(20) in strongly acidic solutions. The (183)W and (119)Sn NMR data suggest that Sn(4+) forms in solution two mutually interconvertable P(2)W(20)Sn complexes of the composition P(2)W(20)O(70)(H(2)O)(3)SnOH(7)(-) and (P(2)W(20)O(70)(H(2)O)(3)Sn)(2)O(14)(-) while Bi(3+) forms one complex of the proposed composition P(2)W(20)O(70)(H(2)O)(2)Bi.(7)(-) We obtained complexes with Bi and Sn as free heteropoly acids and studied their thermostability in the solid state.     

Activity of tungstate catalysts in the synthesis of metylmercaptane from methanol and hydrogen sulfide

Catalysis obtained by impregnation of Al₂O₃ with solutions of hepta-, dodeca-, meta- and normal alkaline metal tungstates showed approximately the same activity. Most selective towards methylmercaptane were catalysts with an alkaline metal to tungsten atomic ratio equal to 21.

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, Al₂O₃ -, -, -, . , : 21.