Lipeng Zhou

Organocatalytic oxidative dehydrogenation of dihydroarenes by dioxygen using 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-benzoquinone (DDQ) and NaNO2.

The oxidative dehydrogenation of dihydroarenes catalyzed by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-benzoquinone(DDQ) and NaNO2 with dioxygen is reported. The combination of DDQ and NaNO2 showed high efficiency and high selectivity, compared with other benzoquinones and anthraquinones, e.g., >99% conversion of 9,10-dihydroanthracene with 99% selectivity for anthracene can be obtained at 120 °C under 1.3 MPa O2 for 8 h. Excellent results were achieved in the oxidative dehydrogenation of variety of dihydroarenes.

Design of bifunctionalized hexagonal mesoporous silicas for selective oxidation of cyclohexane

Bifunctionalized hexagonal mesoporous silicas, CoPh-HMS, were designed and successfully synthesized by a one-step co-condensation route at ambient temperature. This new material possesses the typical wormhole structure of HMS material. Co2+ ions were incorporated into the frameworks in tetrahedral coordination along with phenyl groups immobilized on the surface, confirmed by a careful spectroscopic (Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet–visible and 29Si magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance) study. It was used in the liquid-phase selective oxidation of cyclohexane with molecular oxygen under solvent-free conditions, and showed excellent performance. The results indicate the potential for intentional design of the catalytic environment at a nanometre level with the combination of transition metal incorporation and surface organofunctionalization for mesoporous siliceous materials.

Conversion of syngas to higher alcohols over Cu-Fe-Zr catalysts induced by ethanol

Ethanol induced method was applied to prepare Cu-Fe-Zr catalysts for conversion of syngas to higher alcohols. The catalytic performance of the catalysts induced by ethanol was superior to that of the catalyst prepared by the conventional precipitation method. Among various procedures for ethanol induced method, it was found that incorporation of ethanol in the precipitation process was the better. After incorporation of ethanol, the crystal size of CuO decreased and the reduction of copper species became easier. The better activity of Cu-Fe-Zr catalysts prepared by ethanol induced procedures was probably caused by the higher dispersion of Cu species.

Fluoride-free and low concentration template synthesis of hierarchical Sn-Beta zeolites: efficient catalysts for conversion of glucose to alkyl lactate

Hierarchical Sn-Beta zeolite was prepared through a hydrothermal postsynthesis method, which employed no fluoride and only a small amount of tetraethyl ammonium hydroxide (TEAOH). The dual roles of TEAOH as a base and as a structure directing agent were discussed in detail, which were significantly affected by its concentration. At a TEAOH concentration of 0.2–0.4 mol L−1, hierarchical Sn-Beta zeolites with the most probable mesopore diameter of 7.8 nm were achieved. Other physicochemical properties of the hierarchical Sn-Beta including the content and state of Sn and the acidity were also characterized. The hierarchical Sn-Beta zeolite gave a higher yield of methyl lactate (58%) than the microporous Sn-Beta zeolite synthesized in fluoride medium (47%) due to the promoting effect of the hierarchical porosity on the conversion of glucose in methanol, which is an important and challenging process of a biorefinery. The hierarchical Sn-Beta zeolite is stable and can be recycled and reused five times without significant loss of activity and selectivity.