Evgeny A. Pidko

Understanding the anomalous alkane selectivity of ZIF-7 in the separation of light alkane/alkene mixtures.

C2 and C3 alkanes are selectively adsorbed from mixtures over the corresponding alkenes on the zeolite imidazolate framework ZIF-7 through a gate-opening mechanism. As a result, the direct production of the pure alkene upon adsorption and the pure alkane upon desorption in packed columns is possible. Herein, a detailed investigation of the step-wise adsorption and separation of alkanes and alkenes is presented, together with a rigorous performance assessment. A molecular picture of the gate-opening mechanism underlying the unprecedented selectivity towards alkane adsorption is proposed based on DFT calculations and a thermodynamic analysis of the adsorption-desorption isotherms.

Single-site trinuclear copper oxygen clusters in mordenite for selective conversion of methane to methanol

Copper-exchanged zeolites with mordenite structure mimic the nuclearity and reactivity of active sites in particulate methane monooxygenase, which are enzymes able to selectively oxidize methane to methanol. Here we show that the mordenite micropores provide a perfect confined environment for the highly selective stabilization of trinuclear copper-oxo clusters that exhibit a high reactivity towards activation of carbon–hydrogen bonds in methane and its subsequent transformation to methanol. The similarity with the enzymatic systems is also implied from the similarity of the reversible rearrangements of the trinuclear clusters occurring during the selective transformations of methane along the reaction path towards methanol, in both the enzyme system and copper-exchanged mordenite.

Glucose Activation by Transient Cr2+ Dimers

By combining in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, DFT calculations and kinetic measurements we demonstrate that the unique ability of CrCl2 in ionic liquid media to catalyze glucose dehydration to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural relates to the transient self-organization of Cr2+ dimers, which promotes the isomerization of glucose to fructose. The molecular details of the active site environment during the rate controlling step resemble those in hexose isomerase enzymes.

Highly Efficient Reversible Hydrogenation of Carbon Dioxide to Formates Using a Ruthenium PNP-Pincer Catalyst

The use of hydrogen as a fuel requires both safe and robust technologies for its storage and transportation. Formic acid (FA) produced by the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 is recognized as a potential intermediate H2 carrier. Herein, we present the development of a formate‐based H2 storage system that employs a Ru PNP‐pincer catalyst. The high stability of this system allows cyclic operation with an exceptionally fast loading and liberation of H2. Kinetic studies highlight the crucial role of the base promoter, which controls the rate‐determining step in FA dehydrogenation and defines the total H2 capacity attainable from the hydrogenation of CO2. The reported findings show promise for the development of practical technologies that use formic acid as a hydrogen carrier.

Understanding Cooperativity in Hydrogen-Bond-Induced Supramolecular Polymerization: A Density Functional Theory Study

Understanding the molecular mechanism of cooperative self-assembly is a key component in the design of self-assembled supramolecular architectures across multiple length scales with defined function and composition. In this work, we use density functional theory to rationalize the experimentally observed cooperative growth of C(3)-symmetrical trialkylbenzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamide- (BTA-) based supramolecular polymers that self-assemble into ordered one-dimensional supramolecular structures through hydrogen bonding. Our analysis shows that the cooperative growth of these structures is caused by electrostatic interactions and nonadditive effects brought about by redistribution of the electron density with aggregate length.

Molecular Aspects of Glucose Dehydration by Chromium Chlorides in Ionic Liquids

A combined experimental and computational study of the ionic-liquid-mediated dehydration of glucose and fructose by Cr(II) and Cr(III) chlorides has been performed. The ability of chromium to selectively dehydrate glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methyl imidazolium chloride does not depend on the oxidation state of chromium. Nevertheless, Cr(III) exhibits higher activity and selectivity to HMF than Cr(II) . Anhydrous CrCl(2) and CrCl(3)⋅6 H(2)O readily catalyze glucose dehydration with HMF yields of 60 and 72%, respectively, after 3 h. Anhydrous CrCl(3) has a lower activity, because it only slowly dissolves in the reaction mixture. The transformation of glucose to HMF involves the formation of fructose as an intermediate. The exceptional catalytic performance of the chromium catalysts is explained by their unique ability to catalyze glucose to fructose isomerization and fructose to HMF dehydration with high selectivity. Side reactions leading to humins by means of condensation reactions take predominantly place during fructose dehydration. The higher HMF selectivity for Cr(III) is tentatively explained by the higher activity in fructose dehydration compared to Cr(II) . This limits the concentration of intermediates that are involved in bimolecular condensation reactions. Model DFT calculations indicate a substantially lower activation barrier for glucose isomerization by Cr(III) compared to Cr(II) . Qualitatively, glucose isomerization follows a similar mechanism for Cr(II) and Cr(III) . The mechanism involves ring opening of D-glucopyranose coordinated to a single Cr ion, followed by a transient self-organization of catalytic chromium complexes that promotes the rate-determining hydrogen-shift step.

Highly Active and Recyclable Sn-MWW Zeolite Catalyst for Sugar Conversion to Methyl Lactate and Lactic Acid

Highly active and recyclable sn-mww zeolite catalyst for sugar conversion to methyl lactate and lactic acid

Synergy between Lewis acid sites and hydroxyl groups for the isomerization of glucose to fructose over Sn-containing zeolites: a theoretical perspective

The mechanism of glucose isomerization to fructose catalyzed by Lewis acidic Sn sites in the framework of MOR, BEA, MFI and MWW zeolites was investigated by periodic DFT calculations. The main focus was on the influence of the nature of the active site and the zeolite topology on the rate-controlling hydride shift step. A general finding is that the Sn-catalyzed isomerization of glucose is strongly promoted by proximate hydroxyl groups. These hydroxyl groups can derive from co-adsorbed water molecules or internal silanols. The cooperative action of such proton donors with the Lewis acidic Sn sites results in more effective compensation of the negative charge developing on the O1 atom of glucose during the rate-controlling hydride shift reaction step. The variation in the shape of the micropores with a zeolite topology affects the mode and strength of carbohydrate adsorption, which is dominated by van der Waals forces. Their influence on the intrinsic reactivity of intrazeolite Sn sites is small. We propose that higher glucose adsorption energy in the narrower micropores of 10-membered ring zeolites (e.g., Sn-MFI and Sn-MWW) adversely affects the intrachannel diffusion compared to that in the zeolites with larger pores. The high catalytic performance of Sn-MWW towards glucose transformation is due to the lower barrier for the hydride shift step resulting from the presence of a relatively strong acidic bridging silanol group next to the Lewis acidic Sn site.

The Mechanism of Glucose Isomerization to Fructose over Sn‐BEA Zeolite: A Periodic Density Functional Theory Study

The isomerization of glucose to fructose in the presence of Sn-containing zeolite BEA (beta polymorph A) was studied by periodic DFT calculations. Focus was placed on the nature of the active site and the reaction mechanism. The reactivities of the perfect lattice Sn(IV) site and the hydroxylated SnOH species are predicted to be similar. The isomerization activity of the latter can be enhanced by creating an extended silanol nest in its vicinity. Besides the increased Lewis acidity and coordination flexibility of the Sn center, the enhanced reactivity in this case is ascribed to the reaction environment that promotes activation of the confined sugar intermediates through hydrogen bonding. The resulting multidentate activation of the substrate favors the rate-determining hydrogen-shift reaction. These findings suggest the important role of defect lattice sites in Sn-BEA for catalytic glucose isomerization.

Dynamic Supramolecular Polymers Based on Benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamides: The Influence of Amide Connectivity on Aggregate Stability and Amplification of Chirality

N-Centred benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamides (N-BTAs) composed of chiral and achiral alkyl substituents were synthesised and their solid-state behaviour and self-assembly in dilute alkane solutions were investigated. A combination of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarisation optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction revealed that the chiral N-BTA derivatives with branched 3,7-dimethyloctanoyl chains were liquid crystalline and the mesophase was assigned as Col(ho). In contrast, N-BTA derivatives with linear tetradecanoyl or octanoyl chains lacked a mesophase and were obtained as crystalline compounds. Variable-temperature infrared spectroscopy showed the presence of threefold, intermolecular hydrogen bonding between neighbouring molecules in the mesophase of the chiral N-BTAs. In the crystalline state at room temperature a more complicated packing between the molecules was observed. Ultraviolet and circular dichroism spectroscopy on dilute solutions of N-BTAs revealed a cooperative self-assembly behaviour of the N-BTA molecules into supramolecular polymers with preferred helicity when chiral alkyl chains were present. Both the sergeants-and-soldiers as well as the majority-rules principles were operative in stacks of N-BTAs. In fact, the self-assembly of N-BTAs resembles closely that of their carbonyl (C=O)-centred counterparts, with the exception that aggregation is weaker and amplification of chirality is less pronounced. The differences in the self-assembly of N- and C=O-BTAs were analysed by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. These reveal a substantially lower interaction energy between the monomeric units in the supramolecular polymers of N-BTAs. The lower interaction energy is due to the higher energy penalty for rotation around the Ph--NH bond compared to the Ph--CO bond and the diminished magnitude of dipole-dipole interactions. Finally, we observed that mixed stacks are formed in dilute solution when mixing N-BTAs and C=O BTAs.