Molecular heterogeneous catalysis: a single-site zeolite-supported rhodium complex for acetylene cyclotrimerization.

By anchoring metal complexes to supports, researchers have attempted to combine the high activity and selectivity of molecular homogeneous catalysis with the ease of separation and lack of corrosion of heterogeneous catalysis. However, the intrinsic nonuniformity of supports has limited attempts to make supported catalysts truly uniform. We report the synthesis and performance of such a catalyst, made from [Rh(C(2)H(4))(2)(CH(3)COCHCOCH(3))] and a crystalline support, dealuminated Y zeolite, giving {Rh(C(2)H(4))(2)} groups anchored by bonds to two zeolite oxygen ions, with the structure determined by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and the uniformity of the supported complex demonstrated by (13)C NMR spectroscopy. When the ethylene ligands are replaced by acetylene, catalytic cyclotrimerization to benzene ensues. Characterizing the working catalyst, we observed evidence of intermediates in the catalytic cycle by NMR spectroscopy. Calculations at the level of density functional theory confirmed the structure of the as-synthesized supported metal complex determined by EXAFS spectroscopy. With this structure as an anchor, we used the computational results to elucidate the catalytic cycle (including transition states), finding results in agreement with the NMR spectra.

Functionalization of zeolite ZSM-5 by hydrosilylation and acetone coupling: synthesis, MAS NMR, and theory.

We report a two-step postsynthetic functionalization reaction of zeolite HZSM-5 that proceeds with high selectivity at room temperature. In the first step the framework acid sites of the zeolite are reacted with phenylsilane to replace the acidic proton with a hydrosilyl (-SiH3) group covalently linked to the framework. This group readily couples to acetone in a second step to form a framework-bound hydrosilyl isopropyl ether that is thermally stable at 473 K, but decomposes in the presence of moisture. We characterized these reactions using 29Si, 1H, and 13C MAS NMR, as appropriate. Theoretical modeling using density functional theory and cluster models of the zeolite acid site confirmed that both steps were exothermic and provided theoretical chemical shift values in excellent agreement with experiment.

Structural and mechanistic investigation of a phosphate-modified HZSM-5 catalyst for methanol conversion.

Phosphorus modification of a HZSM-5 (MFI) zeolite by wet impregnation has long been known to decrease aromatic formation in methanol conversion chemistry. We prepared and studied a catalyst modified by introducing trimethylphosphine under reaction conditions followed by oxidation. Magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR shows that extensive dealumination occurs, resulting in a catalyst with a much higher framework SiO2/Al2O3 ratio, as well as extraframework aluminum and approximately 1.4 equiv of entrained phosphoric acid (under working conditions) per aluminum. Upon dehydration or regeneration, the phosphoric acid is converted, reversibly, to entrained P4O10. The aromatic selectivity of the modified catalyst is significantly lower than that of an unmodified zeolite with a similar, increased framework SiO2/Al2O3 ratio. By comparing the rates of H/D exchange in propene under conditions similar to those in methanol conversion chemistry, we determined that the acid site strength is indistinguishable on modified and unmodified zeolites, and this is consistent with theoretical modeling. On the phosphorus-modified zeolite, the rate of propene oligomerization is greatly suppressed, suggesting that entrained phosphate is an impediment to sterically demanding reactions.

Rhodium complex with ethylene ligands supported on highly dehydroxylated MgO: synthesis, characterization, and reactivity.

Mononuclear rhodium complexes with reactive olefin ligands, supported on MgO powder, were synthesized by chemisorption of Rh(C(2)H(4))(2)(C(5)H(7)O(2)) and characterized by infrared (IR), (13)C MAS NMR, and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopies. IR spectra show that the precursor adsorbed on MgO with dissociation of acetylacetonate ligand from rhodium, with the ethylene ligands remaining bound to the rhodium, as confirmed by the NMR spectra. EXAFS spectra give no evidence of Rh-Rh contributions, indicating that site-isolated mononuclear rhodium species formed on the support. The EXAFS data also show that the mononuclear complex was bonded to the support by two Rh-O bonds, at a distance of 2.18 A, which is typical of group 8 metals bonded to oxide supports. This is the first simple and nearly uniform supported mononuclear rhodium-olefin complex, and it appears to be a close analogue of molecular catalysts for olefin hydrogenation in solution. Correspondingly, the ethylene ligands bonded to rhodium in the supported complex were observed to react with H(2) to form ethane, and the supported complex was catalytically active for the ethylene hydrogenation at 298 K. The ethylene ligands also underwent facile exchange with C(2)D(4), and exposure of the sample to carbon monoxide led to the formation of rhodium gem dicarbonyls.

A site-isolated rhodium-diethylene complex supported on highly dealuminated Y zeolite: synthesis and characterization.

The reaction of Rh(C2H4)2(acac) with the partially dehydroxylated surface of dealuminated zeolite Y (calcined at 773 K) and treatments of the resultant surface species in various atmospheres (He, CO, H2, and D2) were investigated with infrared (IR), extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), and 13C NMR spectroscopies. The IR spectra show that Rh(C2H4)2(acac) reacted readily with surface OH groups of the zeolite, leading to loss of acac ligands from the Rh(C2H4)2(acac) and formation of supported mononuclear rhodium complexes, confirmed by the lack of Rh-Rh contributions in the EXAFS spectra; each Rh atom was bonded on average to two oxygen atoms of the zeolite surface with a Rh-O distance of 2.19 A. IR, EXAFS, and 13C NMR spectra show that the ethylene ligands remained bonded to the Rh center in the supported complex. Treatment of the sample in CO led to the formation of site-isolated Rh(CO)2 complexes bonded to the zeolite. The sharpness of the nu(CO) bands in the IR spectrum gives evidence of a nearly uniform supported Rh(CO)2 complex and, by inference, the near uniformity of the mononuclear rhodium complex with ethylene ligands from which it was formed. The supported complex with ethylene ligands reacted with H2 to give ethane, and it also catalyzed ethylene hydrogenation at 294 K.

Theoretical and experimental investigation of the effect of proton transfer on the (27)al MAS NMR line shapes of zeolite-adsorbate complexes: an independent measure of solid Acid strength.

Assessing the degree of proton transfer from a Brønsted acid site to one or more adsorbed bases is central to arguments regarding the strength of zeolites and other solid acids. In this regard certain solid-state NMR measurements have been fruitful; for example, some (13)C, (15)N, or (31)P resonances of adsorbed bases are sensitive to protonation, and the (1)H chemical shift of the Brønsted site itself reflects hydrogen bonding. We modeled theoretically the structures of adsorption complexes of several bases on zeolite HZSM-5, calculated the quadrupole coupling constants (Q(cc)) and asymmetry parameters (eta) for aluminum in these complexes and then in turn simulated the central transitions of their (27)Al MAS NMR spectra. The theoretical line width decreased monotonically with the degree of proton transfer, reflecting structural relaxation around aluminum as the proton was transferred to a base. We verified this experimentally for a series of adsorbed bases by way of single-pulse MAS and triple quantum MQMAS (27)Al NMR. The combined theoretical and experimental approach described here provides a strategy by which (27)Al data can be applied to resolve disputed interpretations of proton transfer based on other evidence.

An oft-studied reaction that may never have been: direct catalytic conversion of methanol or dimethyl ether to hydrocarbons on the solid acids HZSM-5 or HSAPO-34.

Using highly purified reagents and careful tests, we show that methanol and dimethyl ether are apparently unreactive on the two most important methanol-to-hydrocarbon catalysts, HZSM-5 and HSAPO-34. Thus, none of the "direct" mechanisms involving two to four carbon atoms in intermediates such as oxonium ylides, carbenes, carbocations, and free radicals are applicable. Only the "indirect" route (hydrocarbon pool) is an established mechanism for this chemistry. An active catalyst requires a hydrocarbon pool that typically begins with products from organic impurities in the feed, carrier gas, or the solid acid itself. Impurities may also play important roles in other reactions catalyzed by solid acids.