Mário M.Q. Simões

Keggin-type polyoxotungstates as catalysts in the oxidation of cyclohexane by dilute aqueous hydrogen peroxide

Abstract Oxidation of cyclohexane by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of catalytic amounts of the Keggin-type heteropolytungstates [PW 11 O 39 ] 7− and [PW 11 M(L)O 39 ] (7− m )− , M m + =first row transition metal cation, L=H 2 O or CH 3 CN, was found to produce cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone and, in certain cases, cyclohexyl hydroperoxide. The presence of the latter was demonstrated by negative chemical ionization GC-MS. The reactions were carried out in acetonitrile, using tetra n -butylammonium salts of the catalysts and aqueous 30% hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. The polyanions [PW 11 O 39 ] 7− and [PW 11 Fe(H 2 O)O 39 ] 4− showed higher catalytic activity and different selectivity for the oxidation of cyclohexane than did the corresponding Cu-, Co-, Mn- and Ni-substituted complexes.

Oxidation of alkylaromatics with hydrogen peroxide catalysed by manganese(III) porphyrins in the presence of ammonium acetate

The oxidation of toluene (1), ethylbenzene (2) and cumene (3) with hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of several manganese(III) porphyrins with electron-withdrawing substituents, was studied using ammonium acetate as a co-catalyst. All products were characterised and their formation was justified by studying the oxidation of primary precursors, under the same conditions. The formation of the nitrate compounds was shown to be dependent on the presence of ammonium acetate. The oxidation of cumene and ethylbenzene afford products resulting from dehydrogenation reactions.

Oxidation of unsaturated monoterpenes with hydrogen peroxide catalysed by manganese(III) porphyrin complexes

Oxidation of (+)-3-carene (1), nerol (2) and geraniol (3) by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of catalytic amounts of several manganese(III) porphyrin complexes with electron withdrawing and electron donating groups was examined. The reactions were carried out at room temperature in acetonitrile, using aqueous hydrogen peroxide as oxidant and ammonium acetate as co-catalyst. The oxidation reactions of 3-carene (1) showed high conversion of the substrate with all metalloporphyrins tested and four major products were identified and characterised, namely α-3,4-epoxycarane (7), β-3,4-epoxycarane (8), 3-caren-5-one (9) and 3-carene-2,5-dione (10). Nerol (2) oxidation reactions gave rise to 2,3-epoxynerol (11), 6,7-epoxynerol (12) and 2,3,6,7-diepoxynerol (13). In the case of geraniol (3), besides 2,3-epoxygeraniol (14), 6,7-epoxygeraniol (15) and 2,3,6,7-diepoxygeraniol (16), the oxidation reactions afforded 6,7-epoxygeranial (17). The terminal 6,7 double bond of nerol and geraniol was preferentially epoxidised. The regioselectivity induced by different porphyrins was investigated.

Oxidation of monoterpenes with hydrogen peroxide catalysed by Keggin-type tungstoborates

The Keggin-type anions [MnIII(H2O)BW11O39]6− and [BW12O40]5− were used for the first time as catalysts in studies of oxidation of monoterpenes by hydrogen peroxide. The oxidation of geraniol 1, nerol 2, (+)-3-carene 3, thymol 4 and carvacrol 5 was examined. The reactions were carried out in acetonitrile, at room temperature (for 1 and 2) or at reflux (for 3, 4 and 5). Compounds 1 and 2 were preferentially epoxidised at the C2–C3 double bond, whereas 3, under controlled reaction conditions, could afford only the α-epoxide. The oxidation of 4 and 5 yielded a mixture of benzoquinones. For tetrabutylammonium salts, the MnIII substituted anion was found to be a more efficient catalyst than [BW12O40]5−. The infrared spectra of the recovered solids at the end of reaction showed that the Keggin anions were still present, but the electronic spectra of the manganese residues indicate that oxidation of MnIII had taken place.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in deep sea sediments: Microbe–pollutant interactions in a remote environment

Recalcitrant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) released into seawater end up in the deep sea sediments (DSSs). However, their fate here is often oversimplified by theoretical models. Biodegradation of PAHs in DSSs, is assumed to be similar to biodegradation in surface habitats, despite high hydrostatic pressures and low temperatures that should significantly limit PAH biodegradation. Bacteria residing in the DSSs (related mainly to α- and γ-Proteobacteria) have been shown to or predicted to possess distinct genes, enzymes and metabolic pathways, indicating an adaptation of these bacterial communities to the psychro-peizophilic conditions of the DSSs. This work summarizes some of the most recent research on DSS hydrocarbonoclastic populations and mechanisms of PAH degradation and discusses the challenges posed by future high CO2 and UV climate scenarios on biodegradation of PAHs in DSSs.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of MIL‐125 by Post‐Synthetic Modification with CrIII and Ag Nanoparticles

NH2 -MIL-125, [Ti8 O8 (OH)4 (bdc-NH2 )6 ] (bdc(2-) =1,4-benzene dicarboxylate) is a highly porous metal-organic framework (MOF) that has a band gap lying within the ultraviolet region at about 2.6 eV. The band gap may be reduced by a suitable post-synthetic modification of the nanochannels using conventional organic chemistry methods. Here, it is shown that the photocatalytic activity of NH2 -MIL-125 in the degradation of methylene blue under visible light is remarkably augmented by post-synthetic modification with acetylacetone followed by Cr(III) complexation. The latter metal ion extends the absorption from the ultraviolet to the visible light region (band gap 2.21 eV). The photogenerated holes migrate from the MOFs valence band to the Cr(III) valence band, promoting the separation of holes and electrons and increasing the recombination time. Moreover, it is shown that the MOFs photocatalytic activity is also much improved by doping with Ag nanoparticles, formed in situ by the reduction of Ag(+) with the acetylacetonate pendant groups (the resulting MOF band gap is 2.09 eV). Presumably, the Ag nanoparticles are able to accept the MOFs photogenerated electrons, thus avoiding electron-hole recombination. Both, the Cr- and Ag-bearing materials are stable under photocatalytic conditions. These findings open new avenues for improving the photocatalytic activity of MOFs.

An efficient approach for aromatic epoxidation using hydrogen peroxide and Mn(III) porphyrins

Efficient epoxidation, in very high conversions and selectivities, of aromatic hydrocarbons with hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of Mn(III) porphyrins [Mn(TDCPP)Cl, Mn(beta NO(2)TDCPP)Cl, Mn(TPFPP)Cl] as catalysts is described; naphthalene and anthracene afford the anti-1,2:3,4-arene dioxides whereas with phenanthrene the 9,10-oxide is obtained.

Homogeneous catalytic oxidation of styrene and styrene derivatives with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of transition metal-substituted polyoxotungstates

The tetrabutylammonium (TBA) salts of the Keggin-type polyoxotungstates with general formula [XW11M(H2O)O39](n−m)−, where X = P, B or Si and M = Mn, Fe or Co, were evaluated as catalysts in the oxidation of styrene, α-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, α,p-dimethylstyrene, p-chlorostyrene, p-nitrostyrene, and p-methoxystyrene under mild conditions, using aqueous H2O2 as an eco-sustainable oxidant. In this study, the influence of the catalysts and of the different styrene substituents on the oxidation reaction profile was evaluated in terms of conversion and selectivity. For all the performed catalytic studies, the main product results from the oxidative cleavage of the vinyl double bond, except in the case of the oxidation of p-methoxystyrene catalysed by BW11Mn, for which p-methoxyphenol is the main product. The catalysts BW11Mn and SiW11Co give rise to 100% conversion for almost all of the substrates, excluding p-methoxystyrene and p-nitrostyrene for both catalysts and α,p-dimethylstyrene only in the case of BW11Mn. The selectivity for CC cleavage products resulting from the oxidative cleavage of the vinyl double bond can be as high as 98%, reaching 98% conversion for p-nitrostyrene when SiW11Co was used as a catalyst. Possible pathways are discussed and the oxidation of a few presumed intermediates was carried out. The systematic study of several substituted styrene derivatives suggests a possible reactivity order for these compounds in the catalytic system considered.

Mimicking P 450 processes and the use of metalloporphyrins

Metalloporphyrins (MPs) are known to catalyze in vitro a broad range of cytochrome P450-mediated reactions occurring in vivo. Most of the biomimetic research using MPs in oxidative catalysis has been directed towards the oxidation of organic compounds presenting significant reactivity features in one functional group. Much less effort has been made to imitate the oxidation of more complex molecules, with a range of functionalities, such as drugs or other xenobiotics. By varying the structure of the porphyrin, the metal ion, the oxidant, and the reaction conditions, it is possible to modulate the regioselectivity of the oxidation reactions. Recently, and along with studies on the synthesis and reactivity of porphyrins, chlorins, and phthalocyanines, our group was able to develop an interesting line of research in the field of biomimetic oxidation of organic compounds using environmentally benign hydrogen peroxide as oxidant and Mn(III) or Fe(III) porphyrin complexes as catalysts. The more up to date results obtained in such work are reviewed here.

Hydrocarbon contamination and plant species determine the phylogenetic and functional diversity of endophytic degrading bacteria

Salt marsh sediments are sinks for various anthropogenic contaminants, giving rise to significant environmental concern. The process of salt marsh plant survival in such environment is very intriguing and at the same time poorly understood. The plant–microbe interactions may play a key role in the process of environment and in planta detoxification. In this study, a combination of culture‐dependent and culture‐independent molecular approaches [enrichment cultures, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), DNA sequencing] were used to investigate the effect of petroleum hydrocarbons (PH) contamination on the structure and function [polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) dioxygenase genes] of endophytic bacterial communities of salt marsh plant species (Halimione portulacoides and Sarcocornia perennis) in the estuarine system Ria de Aveiro (Portugal). Pseudomonads dominated the cultivable fraction of the endophytic communities in the enrichment cultures. In a set of fifty isolates tested, nine were positive for genes encoding for PAH dioxygenases (nahAc) and four were positive for plasmid carrying genes encoding PAH degradation enzymes (nahAc). Interestingly, these plasmids were only detected in isolates from most severely PH‐polluted sites. The results revealed site‐specific effects on endophytic communities, related to the level of PH contamination in the sediment, and plant‐species‐specific ‘imprints’ in community structure and in genes encoding for PAH dioxygenases. These results suggest a potential ecological role of bacterial plant symbiosis in the process of plant colonization in urban estuarine areas exposed to PH contamination.