Effect of tungsten oxide loading on metathesis activity of ethene and 2-butene over WO<Subscript>3</Subscript>/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts

The metathesis of ethene and 2-butene to propene was studied over WO₃/SiO₂ catalysts with various WO₃ loadings (2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 24 wt%). The 2-butene conversion and propene selectivity increased greatly with WO₃ loading increasing from 2 to 8 wt%, reached maximum at 8–12 wt% WO₃ loading, and then decreased when the WO₃ loading was higher than 12 wt%. From the above results and taking the economics into account, the optimal amount of WO₃ loading was ~8 wt%. The catalysts were characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic techniques to elucidate the effect of different tungsten oxide loadings on the metathesis reactivity of ethene and 2-butene. The characterization data indicated that three types of tungsten species (i.e., surface tetrahedral tungsten species, surface octahedral polytungstate species, and WO₃ crystallites) were present in the catalysts. It was found that WO₃ was not the active centers, and surface tetrahedral tungsten species might be more active than octahedral polytungstate species in metathesis reaction. The reduced form of tungsten species [W⁺⁴, W⁺⁵, and W^+(6−y) (0 < y < 1)] may be the suitable state of W species acting as metathesis active centers.     

How Strain Affects the Reactivity of Surface Metal Oxide Catalysts

Highly dispersed molybdenum oxide supported on mesoporous silica SBA‐15 has been prepared by anion exchange resulting in a series of catalysts with changing Mo densities (0.2–2.5 Mo atoms nm^?2). X‐ray absorption, UV/Vis, Raman, and IR spectroscopy indicate that doubly anchored tetrahedral dioxo MoO₄ units are the major surface species at all loadings. Higher reducibility at loadings close to the monolayer measured by temperature‐programmed reduction and a steep increase in the catalytic activity observed in metathesis of propene and oxidative dehydrogenation of propane at 8 % of Mo loading are attributed to frustration of Mo oxide surface species and lateral interactions. Based on DFT calculations, NEXAFS spectra at the O‐K‐edge at high Mo loadings are explained by distorted MoO₄ complexes. Limited availability of anchor silanol groups at high loadings forces the MoO₄ groups to form more strained configurations. The occurrence of strain is linked to the increase in reactivity.     

Phosphasalen Indium Complexes Showing High Rates and Isoselectivities in rac‐Lactide Polymerizations

Polylactide (PLA) is the leading bioderived polymer produced commercially by the metal‐catalyzed ring‐opening polymerization of lactide. Control over tacticity to produce stereoblock PLA, from rac ‐lactide improves thermal properties but is an outstanding challenge. Here, phosphasalen indium catalysts feature high rates (30±3 m ⁻¹ min⁻¹, THF, 298 K), high control, low loadings (0.2 mol %), and isoselectivity (P _i=0.92, THF, 258 K). Furthermore, the phosphasalen indium catalysts do not require any chiral additives.     

Superactive and stereospecific catalysts. III. Definitive identification of active sites by electron paramagnetic resonance

Superactive Ziegler–Natta catalysts have been prepared from a soluble MgCl₂·2-ethyl hexanol adduct in the presence of organic esters through reactions with TiCl₄ and activated with AlEt₃/phenyltriethoxy-silane. Electron paramagnetic spectra (EPR) were used to elucidate the nature and amount of those Ti⁺³ ions not bridged to another Ti⁺³ ion; the chlorine bridged Ti⁺³ ions are EPR silent. The EPR spectra were attributed to two rhombic Ti⁺³ sites with principal values for the g-tensors (1.967, 1.949, 1.915; and 1.979, 1.935, 1.887). The total amount of the EPR species, obtained by double integration of the EPR spectra, is in close agreement with the concentration of isospecific catalytic sites determined by radiotagging. This suggests that the nonspecific sites are EPR silent. When o-phthalic ester was present during the catalyst synthesis, there appears an EPR signal at the free electron g-value. This signal was attributed to a Ti⁺³ phthalate species with resonance stabilization and spin delocalization; it is absent in the catalysts made in the presence of monoesters such as ethyl benzoate. The effects of monomer, O₂, H₂O, and I₂ on the EPR spectra were investigated. The changes in the EPR spectral intensity and the total Ti⁺³ ions, the latter determined by redox titrations during a polymerization or catalyst aging, are described. The results were extensively compared with those observed for supported Ziegler–Natta catalyst prepared with crystalline MgCl₂.     

Atom-economy Synthesis of N-Substituted Carbamate from Urea Derivative and Dimethyl Carbonate Catalyzed by La/SiO_2: Characterization and Activity

A series of silica gel immobilized lanthanum catalysts were prepared for the atom‐economy synthesis of N‐substituted carbamates from urea derivatives and dimethyl carbonate. The La/SiO₂ catalysts with lanthanum loadings varied from 1.3 wt% to 8.5 wt% were characterized by AES, BET, XRD, TEM, FT‐IR, XPS and TPD. According to the characterization, lanthanum species with particle sizes of 5–10 nm on the surface of silica gel were formed. The catalysts were all amorphous and the surface areas were 336.5–530.2 m²/g. NH₃‐TPD analysis showed that all samples exhibited similar acid strength with different acid amounts. FT‐IR measurement indicated that the component of lanthanum species on the catalyst surface were La(OH)₃, LaOOH and hydrated La₂O₃. Also, the peak value of the absolute amount of LaOOH was obtained with 4.3 wt% lanthanum loading. The BET surface area decreased dramatically when the lanthanum loading was above 4.3 wt%. In consideration of the results obtained from the catalytic reactions, it could be concluded that LaOOH was the possible active species and high surface area was important for the high catalytic activity.     

NO-NH3-O2 reaction catalyzed by V2O5/AC at low temperatures

The effects of SO₂, V₂O₅ loading and reaction temperature on the activity of activated carbon supported vanadium oxide catalyst have been studied for the reduction of NO with NH₃ at low temperatures (150—250°C). It is found that SO₂ significantly promotes the catalyst activity. Both V₂O₅ loading and reaction temperature are vital to the promoting effect of SO₂. The catalysts with V₂O₅ loadings of 1—5 weight percent have a positive effect on the promotion of SO₂, while the catalysts with V₂O₅ loadings of above 7 weight percent have not such an effect or show a negative effect. At lower temperatures (<180°C) SO₂ poisons the catalyst but at higher temperatures promotes it. The reason of the SO₂ promotion was also discussed; it may results from the formation of SO₄ ^2? on the catalyst surface, which increases the surface acidity and hence the catalytic activity.     

Reductive amination of cyclohexanol/cyclohexanone to cyclohexylamine using SBA-15 supported copper catalysts

Amination of cyclohexanol was investigated in vapour phase over copper catalysts supported on mesoporous SBA-15. The different products identified during reductive amination of cyclohexanol reaction were cyclohexanone, cyclohexylamine, along with small amounts of N-Cyclohexylidinecyclohexylamine and dicyclohexylamine. Among several catalysts tested for the reductive amination, 5% Cu supported on SBA-15 exhibited better catalytic performance than other catalysts with 36% selectivity towards cylclohexylamine at 80% cyclohexanol conversion. The optimum reaction conditions employed to achieve the best catalyst performance were at 250 °C, 0.1 MPa of H₂/NH₃, TOS-10h. The active Cu sites, acidity of the catalyst, and effect of reaction parameters play a pivotal role in the reductive amination reaction. The prepared catalysts were characterized by XRD, BET, SEM, H₂-TPR and NH₃-TPD. The dispersion of Cu, particle size, and metal surface area (m²/g) calculated from pulse N₂O decomposition method. TPR findings reveal the presence of substantially dispersed copper oxide species at lower loadings which is easily reducible than the bulk copper oxide species found at higher Cu loadings. The acidity measurements by NH₃-TPD analysis suggest that the maximum acidic strength was obtained at 5 wt% copper on porous SBA-15, and decreased with Cu loadings. The catalytic properties are well in agreement with the findings of catalysts characterization.     

Cu-LaCoO3催化剂选择氢解生物质基糠醇制备1,5-和1,2-戊二醇

高效转化可再生生物质资源制备人类社会必需的燃料和化学品是当前关注和研究的热点之一.生物质基糠醇来源于玉米芯、甘蔗渣、秸秆等农林副产物,价廉易得,是选择氢解合成高附加值1,2-和1,5-戊二醇的理想原料.目前生物质基呋喃衍生物氢解制备二元醇的研究主要集中在Pt,Ru,Rh和Ir等贵金属催化剂,对无Cr非贵金属催化剂的研究甚少.基于纳米Cu催化剂较高的C-O键氢解活性和较低的C-C键裂解活性,以及碱性载体对反应物和反应中间体的稳定作用,我们在前期Cu-Mg3AlO4.5和Cu-Al2O3催化剂催化糠醇氢解研究基础上,以具有一定碱性的ABO3结构的钙钛矿型化合物为载体负载活性Cu开展糠醇氢解研究,深入研究催化剂结构、组成和活性金属价态等对催化剂活性和选择性影响,并研究了催化剂循环使用稳定性.首先我们采用柠檬酸一步络合法制备了一系列具有一定钙钛矿结构的不同Cu负载量(0-20 wt％)的Cu-LaCoO3催化剂以及LaCoO3负载的5 wt％Pt,Ru,Rh和Pd催化剂并考察了它们的糠醇选择氢解制备戊二醇性能.研究发现,在相同活性金属负载量(5 wt％)时,Cu-LaCoO3催化剂具有较优异的呋喃环C-O键氢解活性,而贵金属催化剂倾向于催化呋喃环C=C键加氢饱和.考察不同Cu负载量的Cu-LaCoO3催化剂催化糠醇氢解性能发现,随着Cu负载量的增加,糠醇转化率先升高后降低,在10 wt％Cu负载量时达最高(94.6％),戊二醇总选择性也随Cu负载量的增加先升高后降低,在5 wt％Cu负载量时最高(52.2％),总体以10 wt％Cu负载量催化剂表现出最优异的性能.接着我们考察了反应动力学条件如温度、压力和反应时间以及还原处理条件对10 wt％Cu-LaCoO3催化性能的影响.研究发现适当的高温(～433 K)和高压(6 MPa H2)有利于Cu-LaCoO3催化糠醇氢解制戊二醇,而低浓度氢气(5 vol％)还原有利于1,5-戊二醇的生成,高氢气浓度(纯氢)还原有利于呋喃环加氢饱和的四氢糠醇生成.10 wt％Cu负载量的催化剂经5％H2-95％N2处理后,在413 K和6 MPa H2条件下可取得100％的糠醇转化率以及55.5％的戊二醇总选择性(其中1,5-戊二醇和1,2-戊二醇的选择性之比接近3:1).进一步考察了10 wt％Cu-LaCoO3催化剂的循环使用稳定性,研究发现无论是在高初始转化率(～93.7％)还是低初始转化率(～30.5％)条件下,经多次循环使用后糠醇转化率先升高后基本保持不变,而戊二醇总选择性呈下降趋势,四氢糠醇的选择性逐渐上升.结合XRD,XPS,BET,H2-TPR,CO2-TPD,NH3-TPD和HRTEM等多种表征技术对Cu-LaCoO3催化剂的结构及在糠醇氢解反应中的活性位进行了表征,发现高分散的活性物种、合适的碱性以及部分还原的活性组分均有利于提高催化剂的活性与1,5-戊二醇的化学选择性,高分散的Cu0与部分还原的Co3O4(很可能是CoO)之间的协同催化对于取得较优异的糠醇氢解性能,尤其是较高的1,5-/1,2-戊二醇比例至关重要.     

Pt immobilized spontaneously on porous MXene/MAX hybrid monolith for hydrogen evolution reaction

Designing efficient electrocatalysts with low Pt loadings for hydrogen evolution reaction(HER) is urgently required for renewable and sustainable energy conversion.Here,we report a strategy that Pt nanoparticulates are spontaneously immobilized on porous MXene/MAX monolith as HER catalysts by utilizing the redox reaction between Ti_3C_2T_x MXene and [PtCl_4]~2 in H_2 PtCl_6 aqueous solution.By taking advantage of homogeneously distributed Pt nanoparticulates on highly electrically conductive porous Ti_3C_2T_x/Ti_3AlC_2 monolith,the as-prepared electrocatalysts show high catalytic performance for hydrogen evolution.Specifically,the binder-free electrocatalysts have Pt loadings as low as 8.9 μg/cm~2,with low overpotential of 43 mV at a curre nt density of 10 mA/cm~2 and low Tafel slope that three times lower than porous Ti_3C_2T_x/Ti_3AlC_2 without Pt loading.This strategy offers a new approach to constructing ultra-low Pt-loading HER catalysts on the basis of in situ redox reaction between noble metal ions and MXenes.     

Electronic Metal-Support Interaction-Modified Structures and Catalytic Activity of CeOx Overlayers in CeOx/Ag Inverse Catalysts

Electronic metal-support interactions (EMSIs) of oxide-supported metal catalysts strongly modifies the electronic structures of the supported metal nanoparticles. The strong influence of EMSIs on the electronic structures of oxide overlayers on metal nanoparticles employing cerium oxides/Ag inverse catalysts is reported herein. Ce₂O₃ overlayers were observed to exclusively form on Ag nanocrystals at low cerium loadings and be resistant to oxidation treatments up to 250 °C, whereas CeO₂ overlayers gradually developed as the cerium loading increased. Ag cubes enclosed by {001} facets with a smaller work function exert a stronger EMSI effect on the CeO_x overlayers than Ag cubes enclosed by {111} facets. Only the CeO₂ overlayers with a fully developed bulk CeO₂ electronic structure significantly promote the catalytic activity of Ag nanocrystals in CO oxidation, whereas cerium oxide overlayers with other electronic structures do not. These results successfully extend the concept of EMSIs from oxide-supported metal catalysts to metal-supported oxide catalysts.     

Palladium Complexes Based on Ylide-Functionalized Phosphines (YPhos): Broadly Applicable High-Performance Precatalysts for the Amination of Aryl Halides at Room Temperature

Palladium allyl, cinnamyl, and indenyl complexes with the ylide-substituted phosphines Cy₃P⁺−C⁻(R)PCy₂ (with R=Me ( L1 ) or Ph ( L2 )) and Cy₃P⁺−C⁻(Me)PtBu₂ ( L3 ) were prepared and applied as defined precatalysts in C−N coupling reactions. The complexes are highly active in the amination of 4-chlorotoluene with a series of different amines. Higher yields were observed with the precatalysts in comparison to the in situ generated catalysts. Changes in the ligand structures allowed for improved selectivities by shutting down β-hydride elimination or diarylation reactions. Particularly, the complexes based on L2 (joYPhos) revealed to be universal precatalysts for various amines and aryl halides. Full conversions to the desired products are reached mostly within 1 h reaction time at room temperature, thus making L2 to one of the most efficient ligands in C−N coupling reactions. The applicability of the catalysts was demonstrated for aryl chlorides, bromides and iodides together with primary and secondary aryl and alkyl amines, including gram-scale applications also with low catalyst loadings of down to 0.05 mol %. Kinetic studies further demonstrated the outstanding activity of the precatalysts with TOF over 10.000 h⁻¹.     

Controllable construction of Ce-Mn-Ox with tunable oxygen vacancies and active species for toluene catalytic combustion

A series of Ce-Mn-O_x catalysts synthesized under different hydrothermal conditions were evaluated by catalytic removal of toluene. The results of characterization showed that the contents of oxygen vacancies and active species in catalysts were crucial for the catalytic oxidation process. The concentration of Ce³⁺, Mn³⁺, and adsorbed oxygen associated with structural defects in Ce-Mn-O_x catalysts could be controlled by hydrothermal conditions, which were considered to promote redox capacity and improve catalytic oxidation performance. In addition, suitable synthetic conditions could increase the S_BET and V_p of catalysts. Among the prepared catalysts, CM-100 showed the best catalytic performance due to the generation of more defective oxygen and active species (Ce³⁺, Mn³⁺, and surface-adsorbed oxygen). In addition, the CM-100 catalyst showed satisfactory water resistance and stability.     

Catalytic properties of transition metal salts immobilized on nanoporous silica polyamine composites II: hydrogenation

The transition metal compounds Pd(OAc)₂, RhCl₃·4H₂O and RuCl₃ · nH₂O were adsorbed onto the nanoporous silica polyamine composite (SPC) particles (150–250 µm), WP‐1 [poly(ethyleneimine) on amorphous silica], BP‐1 [poly(allylamine) on amorphous silica], WP‐2 (WP‐1 modified with chloroacetic acid) and BP‐2 (BP‐1 modified with chloroacetic acid). Inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectrometry analysis of the dried samples after digestion indicated metal loadings of 0.4–1.2 mmol g^?1 except for RhCl₃·4H₂O on BP‐2 which showed a metal loading of only 0.1 mmol g^?1. The metal loaded composites were then screened as hydrogenation catalysts for the reduction of 1‐octene, 1‐decene, 1‐hexene and 1, 3‐cyclohexadiene at a hydrogen pressure of 5 atm in the temperature range of 50–90 °C. All 12 combinations of SPC and transition metal compound proved active for the reduction of the terminal olefins, but isomerization to internal alkenes was competitive in all cases. Under these conditions, selective hydrogenation of 1,3‐cyclohexadiene to cyclohexene was observed with some of the catalysts. Turnover frequencies were estimated for the hydrogenation reactions based on the metal loading and were in some cases comparable to more conventional heterogeneous hydrogenation catalysts. Examination of the catalysts before and after reaction with X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy revealed that, in the cases of Pd(OAc)₂ on WP‐2, BP‐1 and BP‐2, conversion of the surface‐ligand bound metal ions to metal nano‐particles occurs. This was not the case for Pd(OAc)₂ on WP‐1 or for RuCl₃ · nH₂O and RhCl₃· 4H₂O on all four composites. The overall results are discussed in terms of differences in metal ion coordination modes for the composite transition‐metal combinations. Suggested ligand interactions are supported by solid state CPMAS ¹³C NMR analyses and by analogy with previous structural investigations of metal binding modes on these composite materials. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

NO-NH3-O2 reaction catalyzed by V2O5/AC at low temperatures —Effects of SO2, V2O5 loading and reaction temperature

The effects of SO₂, V₂O₅ loading and reaction temperature on the activity of activated carbon supported vanadium oxide catalyst have been studied for the reduction of NO with NH₃ at low temperatures (150—250°C). It is found that SO₂ significantly promotes the catalyst activity. Both V₂O₅ loading and reaction temperature are vital to the promoting effect of SO₂. The catalysts with V₂O₅ loadings of 1—5 weight percent have a positive effect on the promotion of SO₂, while the catalysts with V₂O₅ loadings of above 7 weight percent have not such an effect or show a negative effect. At lower temperatures (<180°C) SO₂ poisons the catalyst but at higher temperatures promotes it. The reason of the SO₂ promotion was also discussed; it may results from the formation of SO₄ ²⁻ on the catalyst surface, which increases the surface acidity and hence the catalytic activity.     

Studies on the transesterification of glycerides: I. The methanolysis of tripalmitin catalysed by diorganotin(IV) compounds

The potential of diorganotin compounds, in particular alkoxides and phenoxides, to function as neutral and non‐corrosive catalysts in the methanolysis of tripalmitin (the main triglyceride in palm oil) to methyl palmitate has been investigated. The compounds reveal a strong dependence of catalytic activity on the nature of the organic moiety on tin, the ring‐borne substituent on the phenoxyl group and the chain length of the alkoxyl fragment, as well as the ring size in cyclic alkoxides derived from bifunctional ligands such as diethanolamine. Kinetic studies, based on detailed compositional analysis of the reaction mixture by gas chromatography, were performed typically at 70.0 ± 0.1 °C in mixed methanol–tetrahydrofuran (3:2, v/v) medium and at 1.0 mol% catalyst concentration with respect to tripalmitin. The catalysts used for the kinetic studies were dibutyl bis( p‐chlorophenoxyl)tin 1, dibutyl bis(phenoxyl)tin 2, 1,1‐dibutyl‐5‐aza‐2,8‐dioxo‐1‐stannacyclo‐octane 3, 2,2‐dibutyl‐2‐stanna‐1,3‐benzdioxane 4 and dioctyltin oxide 5. The methanolysis was shown to proceed by a consecutive reaction pathway. Numerical analysis of the rate data yielded values of the three rate constants k₁, k₂ and k₃ corresponding to the respective conversions, tripalmitin → dipalmitin → monopalmitin → glycerol. Based on t values ranging from 7.2 to 22.3 h⁻¹, the following order of catalytic activity was established: 1 > 2 > 3 ≫ 5 ≫ 4; for catalyst 4 the t value was close to that of the uncatalysed reaction. A six‐fold increase in rate was observed when the catalyst concentration was raised from 1.0 to 3.0 mol% for 3. ¹¹⁹Sn NMR analysis of the chloroform extracts of the pot residue following solvent removal at the end of 24 h of the transesterification reaction revealed that the catalysts 1 and 3 essentially retained their chemical integrity. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The state of metals in the Pt/Al2O3 and (Pt-Cu)/Al2O3 catalysts as indicated by IR spectroscopy with isotope dilution of 12C16O with 13C18O molecules

Adsorption of ¹³C¹⁸O+¹²C¹⁶O mixtures on the Pt(2.9%)/γ-Al₂O₃, (Pt(2.6%)+Cu(2.7%))/γ-Al₂O₃, and (Pt(2.6%)+Cu(5.1%))/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts was studied by FTIR spectroscopy. On the metallic Pt surface at coverages close to saturation, CO is adsorbed both strongly and weakly to form linear species for which the vibrational frequencies of the isolated ¹³C¹⁸O molecules adsorbed on Pt are ∼1940 and ∼1970 cm⁻¹, respectively. The redistribution of intensities of the high-and low-frequency absorption bands in the spectra of adsorbed ¹³C¹⁸O indicates that these linear forms are present on the adjacent metal sites. The weak adsorption is responsible for the fast isotope exchange between the gaseous CO and CO molecules adsorbed on metal. The Pt-Cu alloys, in which the electronic state of the surface Pt atoms characteristic of monometallic Pt remains unchanged, are formed on the surface of the reduced Pt-Cu bimetallic catalysts. The decrease in the vibrational frequencies of the isolated C=O bonds in the isolated Pt-CO complexes suggests that the CO molecules adsorbed on the Cu atoms affect the electronic properties of Pt. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 831–836, May, 2007.     

Werner Complexes with ω‐Dimethylaminoalkyl Substituted Ethylenediamine Ligands: Bifunctional Hydrogen‐Bond‐Donor Catalysts for Highly Enantioselective Michael Additions

The racemic carbonate complex [Co(en)₂O₂CO]⁺ Cl^? (en=1,2‐ethylenediamine) and (S)‐[H₃NCH((CH₂)_nNHMe₂)CH₂NH₃]³⁺ 3 Cl^? (n=1–4) react (water, charcoal, 100 °C) to give [Co(en)₂((S)‐H₂NCH((CH₂)_nNHMe₂)CH₂NH₂)]⁴⁺ 4 Cl^? ( 3 a – d H⁴⁺ 4 Cl^?) as a mixture of Λ/Δ diastereomers that separate on chiral‐phase Sephadex columns. These are treated with NaOH/Na⁺ BAr_f^? (BAr_f=B(3,5‐C₆H₃(CF₃)₂)₄) to give lipophilic Λ‐ and Δ‐ 3 a–d ³⁺ 3 BAr_f^?, which are screened as catalysts (10 mol %) for additions of dialkyl malonates to nitroalkenes. Optimal results are obtained with Λ‐ 3 c ³⁺ 3 BAr_f^? (CH₂Cl₂, ?35 °C; 98–82 % yields and 99–93 % ee for six β‐arylnitroethenes). The monofunctional catalysts Λ‐ and Δ‐[Co(en)₃]³⁺ 3 BAr_f^? give enantioselectivities of <10 % ee with equal loadings of Et₃N. The crystal structure of Δ‐ 3 a H⁴⁺ 4 Cl^? provides a starting point for speculation regarding transition‐state assemblies.     

A theoretical and experimental XAS study of monolayer dispersive supported CuO/γ-Al2O3 catalysts

The local structures of supported CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ monolayer dispersive catalysts with different CuO loadings have been investigated by EXAFS and multiple scattering XANES simulations. The EXAFS results show that the first nearest neighbors around the Cu atoms in the CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts are similar to that of the polycrystalline CuO powder, which is independent of the CuO loadings. Moreover, the Cu K-XANES FEFF8 calculations for CuO reveal that the monolayer-dispersed CuO species are of small distorted (CuO₄)_mⁿ⁺ clusters, which is mainly composed of a distorted CuO₆ octahedron incorporated in the surface octahedral vacant sites of the γ-Al₂O₃ support. We consider that the CuO species for the CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts with loadings of 0.4 and 0.8 mmol/100 m² are distorted (CuO₄)_mⁿ⁺ clusters composed mainly of a distorted CuO₆ octahedron incorporated in the surface octahedral vacant sites of the γ-Al₂O₃ support after calcinations at high temperature in air for a few hours. On the contrary, for the CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ with loading of 1.2 mmol/100 m², the local structure of Cu atoms in CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ is similar to that of polycrystalline CuO powder.     

Enantioselective Homogeneous Hydrogenation of Monosubstituted Pyridines and Furans

Summary.  The first case of an enantioselective hydrogenation of monosubstituted pyridines and furans with homogeneous rhodium diphosphine catalysts with low but significant enantioselectivities and catalyst activities is reported. Best enantioselectivities (ees of 24–27%) were obtained for the hydrogenation of 2- and 3-pyridine carboxylic acid ethyl ester and 2-furan carboxylic acid with catalysts prepared in situ from [Rh(nbd)₂]BF₄ and the chiral ligands diop, binap, or ferrocenyl diphosphines of the josiphos type. Turnover numbers (ton) were in the order of 10–20, turnover frequencies (tof) usually 1–2 h⁻¹. Diphosphines giving 6- or 7-ring chelates led to higher ees than 1,2-diphosphines; otherwise, no clear correlation between ligand properties and catalytic performance was found. In some experiments black precipitates were observed at the end of the reaction, indicating the decomposition of the homogeneous catalysts for certain ligand/metal/substrate combinations. Received April 5, 2000. Accepted (revised) May 2, 2000     

Cobalt‐catalyzed alternating and nonalternating copolymerization of carbon monoxide with aziridine

Catalysts CH₃COCo(CO)₃PPh₃ ( 1 ) and HCo(CO)₃PPh₃ ( 2 ) catalyze the copolymerization of aziridine and carbon monoxide. Catalyst 2 can be conveniently generated in situ via reaction of Na⁺Co(CO)₄, N,N‐dimethylanilinium chloride, and PPh₃. The copolymerization alternates at high catalyst loadings to produce poly(β‐alanine). The end groups of the poly(β‐alanine) product are characterized by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry and by comparison of the ¹H NMR spectra of the polymer and a stepwise synthesized model compound. At low catalyst loadings, the polymer product contains both the β‐alanine units and amine units because of nonalternating enchainment of the comonomers. The characterization of the amine units is again supported by comparison of the ¹H NMR spectra of the polymers and the stepwise synthesized model compounds. The molecular weights of the polymers are determined by gel permeation chromatography. The thermal stability of the polymers is probed by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 376–385, 2003