Reversible carbonylation/decarbonylation of zeolite-entrapped tetrairidium clusters

Iridium carbonyl clusters in NaY zeolite have been prepared from adsorbed [Ir(CO)₂(acad)]. The infrared spectra and the yellow color of the sample are consistent with the formation of Ir₄(CO)₁₂] in the zeolite cages, presumably the product of reductive carbonylation of the mononuclear precursor. The iridium carbonyl cluster in the zeolite could be decarbonylated by treatment with flowing H₂ at 300 ° C and 1 atm and recarbonylated by treatment with CO at 40 °C and 1 atm. The carbonylation/decarbonylation process is reversible, provided that the temperature of the decarbonylation is low, which suggests that the decarbonylated clusters may be Ir₄. Treatment of the sample in H₂ at 425 ° C and 1 atm led to the formation of particles or iridium metal outside the zeolite pores.     

CO hydrogenation towards higher alcohols catalysed on SiO2-grafted and zeolite-entrapped Ru,Co and RuCo bimetallic clusters: Their EXAFS and FTIR characterization and catalytic performances

Some Ru and Co carbonyl clusters in zeolite pores such as Ru₃(CO)₁₂/NaY, [HRu₆(CO)₁₈]^–/NaY, [Ru₆(CO)₁₈]^2–/NaX, Co₄(CO)₁₂/NaY and Co₆(CO)₁₆/NaY were prepared by the ship-in-bottle technique, and characterized by FTIR and EXAFS. The RuCo bimetallic carbonyl cluster was prepared by reductive carbonylation of the oxidized RuCo/NaY, which provides the proposed assignment to [HRUCo₃(CO)₁₂]/NaY. The tailored Ru, RuCo and Co catalysts were prepared by H₂ reduction from the precursors, e.g. Ru, RuCo bimetallic and Co carbonyl clusters impregnated on SiO₂ and entrapped in NaY and NaX zeolites. The RuCo bimetallic carbonyl cluster-derived catalysts showed substantially higher activities and selectivities for oxygenates such as C₁–C₅ alcohols in CO hydrogenation (CO/H₂ = 0.33-1.0, 5 bar, 519–543 K). By contrast, hydrocarbons such as methane were preferentially obtained on the catalysts prepared from Ru₆, Ru₃ and Co₄ carbonyl clusters and provided lower CO conversion and poor selectivities for oxygenates. The RuCo bimetals are proposed to be associated with the selective formation of higher alcohols in CO hydrogenation.     

MgO-supported cluster catalysts with Pt–Ru interactions prepared from Pt3Ru6(CO)21(μ3-H)(μ-H)3

Bimetallic MgO-supported catalysts were prepared by adsorption of Pt₃Ru₆(CO)₂₁(μ₃-H)(μ-H)₃ on porous MgO. Characterization of the supported clusters by infrared (IR) spectroscopy showed that the adsorbed species were still in the form of metal carbonyls. The supported clusters were decarbonylated by treatment in flowing helium at 300 °C, as shown by IR and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data, and the resulting supported PtRu clusters were shown by EXAFS spectroscopy to have metal frames that retained Pt–Ru bonds but were slightly restructured relative to those of the precursor; the average cluster size was almost unchanged as a result of the decarbonylation. These are among the smallest reported bimetallic clusters of group-8 metals. The decarbonylated sample catalyzed ethylene hydrogenation with an activity similar to that reported previously for γ-Al₂O₃-supported clusters prepared in nearly the same way and having nearly the same structure. Both samples were also active for n-butane hydrogenolysis, with the MgO-supported catalyst being more active than the γ-Al₂O₃-supported catalyst.     

Ethanol Steam Reforming on Co/CeO2: The Effect of ZnO Promoter

A series of ZnO promoted Co/CeO₂ catalysts were synthesized and characterized using XRD, TEM, H₂-TPR, CO chemisorption, O₂-TPO, IR-Py, and CO₂-TPD. The effects of ZnO on the catalytic performances of Co/CeO₂ were studied in ethanol steam reforming. It was found that the addition of ZnO facilitated the oxidation of Co⁰ via enhanced oxygen mobility of the CeO₂ support which decreased the activity of Co/CeO₂ in C–C bond cleavage of ethanol. 3 wt% ZnO promoted Co/CeO₂ exhibited minimum CO and CH₄ selectivity and maximum CO₂ selectivity. This resulted from the combined effects of the following factors with increasing ZnO loading: (1) enhanced oxygen mobility of CeO₂ facilitated the oxidation of CH _x and CO to form CO₂; (2) increased ZnO coverage on CeO₂ surface reduced the interaction between CH _x /CO and Co/CeO₂; and (3) suppressed CO adsorption on Co⁰ reduced CO oxidation rate to form CO₂. In addition, the addition of ZnO also modified the surface acidity and basicity of CeO₂, which consequently affected the C₂–C₄ product distributions.     

Novel cluster-derived catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde

The controlled pyrolysis of transition metal cluster substituted metal carboxylates, e.g., M₄O[(CO)₉Co₃CCO₂]₆, where M = Co and Zn, and M'₂(CO)₉Co₃CCOO₄, where M' = Co, Mo, and Cu, results in the formation of high surface area, amorphous solids that are active and selective catalysts for the hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde. In contrast to conventional metal catalysts that are selective for the double bond hydrogenation, these new solids exhibit high regioselectivities for the conversion of crotonaldehyde (2-butenal) to crotyl alcohol (2-butenol). Further, the observed selectivities depend on the metal cluster carboxylate structure.     

A unique 2D framework containing rhombic tetrameric cobalt(II) of mixed Td and Oh geometries linked by two different rigid ligands: Synthesis,crystal structure and magnetic properties

A new 2D coordination polymer with the formula [Co₄(μ₃-OH)₂(H₂nip-2H)₂(H₂nip-H)₂(bpe)₂]_n (1) (H₂nip = 5-nitro-isophthalic acid, bpe = trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene), has been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. The structure of 1 is built around uncommon, rhombic {Co₄} clusters with double T_d and double O_h Co(II) geometries, which are extended into 2D network by the rigid deprotonated H₂nip and bpe bridges. Magnetic property study indicates there is weak antiferromagnetic coupling interaction between Co(II) ions, which mainly arises from the antiferromagnetic coupling interaction in the tetramer, based on the nature of the μ₃-hydroxyl group and syn–syn carboxylate-bridged modes.     

Selective synthesis of alcohols from syngas and hydroformylation of ethylene over supported cluster-derived cobalt catalysts

Hydroformylation of ethylene and CO hydrogenation were studied over cobalt-based catalysts derived from reaction of Co₂(CO)₈ with ZnO, MgO and La₂O₃ supports. At 433 K a similar activity sequence was reached for both reactions: Co/ ZnO > Co/La₂O₃ > Co/MgO. This confirms the deep analogy between hydroformylation and CO hydrogenation into alcohols. In the CO hydrogenation the selectivity towards alcohol mixture (C₁-C₃) was found to be near 100% at 433 K for a conversion of 6% over the Co/ZnO catalyst; this catalyst showed oxo selectivity higher than 98% in the hydroformylation of ethylene. Magnetic experiments showed that no metallic cobalt particles were formed at 433 K. It is suggested that the active site for the step that is common to both reactions is related to the surface homonuclear Co²⁺/[Co(CO)₄]^– ion-pairing species.     

Characterization of Fischer–Tropsch Cobalt-Based Catalytic Systems (Co/SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and Co/Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>) by X-ray Diffraction and Magnetic Measurements

Results of the characterization of six Co-based Fischer–Tropsch (FT) catalysts, with 15% Co loading and supported on SiO₂ and Al₂O₃, are presented. Room temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature and magnetic field (H) variation of the magnetization (M), and low-temperature (5 K) electron magnetic resonance (EMR) are used for determining the electronic states (Co⁰, CoO, Co₃O₄, Co²⁺) of cobalt. Performance of these catalysts for FT synthesis is tested at reaction temperature of 240 °C and pressure of 20 bars. Under these conditions, 15% Co/SiO₂ catalysts yield higher CO and syngas conversions with higher methane selectivity than 15% Co/Al₂O₃ catalysts. Conversely the Al₂O₃ supported catalysts gave much higher selectivity towards olefins than Co/SiO₂. These results yield the correlation that the presence of Co₃O₄ yield higher methane selectivity whereas the presence of Co²⁺ species yields lower methane selectivity but higher olefin selectivity. The activities and selectivities are found to be stable for 55 h on-stream.     

A triheterometallic cluster: synthesis and structural characterisation of a cyclopentadienyl-substituted pentanuclear cluster based on an Os3CoRu metal core

The ionic coupling of the carbonyl cluster anion [Os₃Co(CO)₁₃]⁻ (1) with [Ru(η⁵-C₅H₅)(NCMe)₃]⁺ affords the new pentanuclear triheterometallic cluster Os₃CoRu(CO)₁₃(η⁵-C₅H₅) (2) as well as the known bimetallic cluster compounds HOs₃Ru(CO)₁₁(η⁵-C₅H₅) and Os₃Ru₂(CO)₁₁(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂. The crystal structure of cluster 2 shows that the metal framework is based on a trigonal bipyramid (approximate C_s symmetry) with the Ru, Co and an Os atom occupying the equatorial metal plane.     

Preparation of metallic cobalt inside NaY zeolite with high catalytic activity in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

Metallic cobalt clusters are synthesized inside the cages of NaY zeolite by a method including four steps, i.e.: (1) ion exchange, (2) precipitation of exchanged cobalt cations, (3) calcination and (4) reduction of the calcined oxide nano-particles inside the zeolite. As compared with that prepared by the ion exchange followed directly by calcination and reduction and that by the conventional impregnation method, the sample by this four-step method exhibits higher CO conversion and higher selectivity to n-C₁₀–C₂₀ paraffins in Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis. The small metallic cobalt clusters inside the supercages of NaY zeolite probably account for the high catalytic performances.     

Effect of component interaction on the activity of Co/CuZnO for CO hydrogenation

Co/CuZnO is known as a base metal catalyst active for C₂₊ oxygenate synthesis. This study probed the interactions of the different components of Co/CuZnO catalysts on CO hydrogenation using Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (250 °C, H₂/CO = 2) and SSITKA. Only combination of all three metal components produced a catalyst with relatively high C₂₊ oxygenate selectivity, but with much lower activity compared to that for Co/Al₂O₃. In situ reaction characterizations, albeit at somewhat different conditions than alcohol synthesis, helped explain interaction of the components. SSITKA, under methanation conditions, indicated that the most striking feature for the combination of Co with ZnO and/or Cu was a much decreased amount of reaction intermediates. Ethane hydrogenolysis results suggested that the different components for these catalysts were in close contact and few or no large ensembles (n ? 12) of Co atoms existed, confirming that ZnO and/or Cu covered/blocked a substantial number of active sites on Co for CO hydrogenation.     

Highly efficient separation of methane from nitrogen on a squarate‐based metal‐organic framework

Highly selective capture of methane from nitrogen is considered to be a feasible approach to improve the heating value of methane and mitigate the effects of global warming. In this work, an ultramicroporous squarate‐based metal‐organic framework (MOF), [Co₃(C₄O₄)₂(OH)₂] (C₄O₄^2? = squarate), with enhanced negative oxygen binding sites was synthesized for the first time and used as adsorbent for efficient separation of methane and nitrogen. Adsorption performance of this material was evaluated by single‐component adsorption isotherms and breakthrough experiments. Furthermore, density functional theory calculation was performed to gain the deep insight into the adsorption binding sites. Compared with the other state‐of‐the‐art materials, this material exhibited the highest adsorption selectivity (8.5–12.5) of methane over nitrogen as well as the moderate volumetric uptake of methane (19.81 cm³/cm³) under ambient condition. The unprecedented selectivity and chemical stability guaranteed this MOF as a candidate adsorbent to capture CH₄ from N₂, especially for the unconventional natural gas upgrading. © 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 64: 3681–3689, 2018     

Characterization and magnetic properties of carbon-coated cobalt nanocapsules synthesized by the chemical vapor-condensation process

Carbon-coated cobalt nanocapsules were synthesized by the chemical vapor-condensation process with cobalt carbonyl (Co₂(CO)₈) used as precursor and carbon monoxide (CO) as carrier gas. The characterization and magnetic properties of carbon-coated cobalt nanocapsules were investigated systematically. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) images showed that the as-prepared nanoparticles consist of a metal core and an amorphous carbon shell. X-ray diffraction and TEM selected area diffraction revealed the presence of f.c.c. Co phase, h.c.p. Co phase, and minority Co₂C, Co₃C phases. The saturation magnetization at room temperature of the nanocapsules is 146.9 Am² kg⁻¹, which is 90% of the bulk ferromagnetic element counterpart. The coercive force at room temperature of the nanocapsules is 0.12 T, while the ratio of remnant to saturation magnetization M_r/M_s is about 0.4. The saturation magnetization and the coercive force increase with increasing the decomposition temperature, mainly due to the increase of the size of the magnetic particles. The decomposition of the cobalt carbonyl (Co₂(CO)₈) and CO gas can decrease efficiently the oxygen content in nanocapsules. The metallic Co nanoparticles completely coated by carbon can resist the dilute acid erosion as well as the oxidation. The thermal stability of the Co nanocapsules is also studied.     

Liquid-phase oxidation of alcohols with oxygen catalysed by modified palladium(II) oxide

Benzyl and trans-cinnamyl alcohols are heterogeneously oxidised to the corresponding aldehydes by O₂ in liquid phase at 100 °C and ambient pressure using hydrous binary Pd^II–M oxides (M=Co^III, Fe^III, Mn^III and Cu^II) as catalysts. Modification of Pd^II oxide with transition metal cations greatly improves the catalytic activity and selectivity to aldehydes, Co^III and Fe^III being the most effective promoters. In benzyl alcohol oxidation in toluene solution, the Pd–Co system gives 85–100% selectivity to aldehydes at 53–95% alcohol conversion in 15–60 min reaction time. The catalyst can be re-used without loss of its activity and selectivity. The presence of a certain amount of water in the catalysts is essential for their performance. From TGA, the composition of the optimal Pd–Co catalyst can be approximated as PdO·(0.13–1.0)CoO(OH)·(2–3)H₂O. The oxidation of alcohols on Pd–M oxide catalysts is accompanied by transfer hydrogenation and decarbonylation side reactions, which is similar to the oxidation on the palladium metal. This indicates that the oxidation of alcohols on Pd–M oxide catalysts occurs via a dehydrogenation mechanism, with hydrogen being present on the catalyst surface.     

Use of catalytic reactions to probe Mg-Al mixed oxide surfaces

The atmospheric hydroformylations of ethylene and propylene were investigated over SiO₂-supported Rh₄(CO)₁₂, Co₂(CO)₈, Rh₂Co₂(CO)₁₂ and RhCo₃(CO)₁₂-derived catalysts. The bimetal cluster-derived catalysts showed excellent activities for the formation of oxygenates. In situ IR study on partially dehydroxylated SiO₂-supported RhCo₃(CO)₁₂ suggested that the bimetal cluster framework may be preserved after decarbonylation under H₂ at 623 K and may be recarbonylated at room temperature. A strong physisorption of RhCo₃ (CO)₁₂ on SiO₂ is proposed, due to a nucleophilic attack of surface oxygen on the Co atoms, which promotes a metal-support interaction and thus stabilizes the bimetal cluster framework. A subcarbonyl bimetal cluster is thought to be the actual catalytic species on the surface.     

Partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas over α-Al2O3-supported bimetallic Pt–Co catalysts

The partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas was studied at atmospheric pressure and in the temperature range of 550–800°C over -Al₂O₃-supported bimetallic Pt–Co, and monometallic Pt and Co catalysts, respectively. Both methane conversion and CO selectivity over a bimetallic Pt_0.5Co₁ catalyst were higher than those over monometallic Pt_0.5 and Co₁ catalysts. Furthermore, the addition of platinum in Pt–Co bimetallic catalysts effectively improved their resistance to carbon deposition with no coking occurring on Pt_0.5Co₁ during 80 h reaction. The FTIR study of CO adsorption observed only linearly bonded CO on bimetallic Pt–Co catalysts. TPR and XPS showed enhanced formation of a cobalt surface phase (CSP) in bimetallic Pt–Co catalysts. The origins of the good coking resistivity of bimetallic Pt–Co catalysts were discussed.     

Cobalt and Copper Composite Oxides as Efficient Catalysts for Preferential Oxidation of CO in H2-Rich Stream

A series of Co–Cu composite oxides with different Co/Cu atomic ratios were prepared by a co-precipitation method. XRD, N₂ sorption, TEM, XPS, H₂-TPR, CO-TPR, CO-TPD and O₂-TPD were used to characterize the structure and redox properties of the composite oxides. Only spinel structure of Co₃O₄ phase was confirmed for the Co–Cu composite oxides with Co/Cu ratios of 4/1 and 2/1, but the particle sizes of these composite oxides decreased evidently compared with Co₃O₄. These composite oxides could be reduced at lower temperatures than Co₃O₄ by either H₂ or CO. CO and O₂ adsorption amounts over the composite oxides were significantly higher than those over Co₃O₄. These results indicated a strong interaction between cobalt and copper species in the composite samples, possibly suggesting the formation of Cu _x Co_3?x O₄ solid solution. For the preferential oxidation of CO in a H₂-rich stream, the Co–Cu composite oxides (Co/Cu = 4/1–1/1) showed distinctly higher catalytic activities than both Co₃O₄ and CuO, and the formation of Cu _x Co_3?x O₄ solid solution was proposed to contribute to the high catalytic activity of the composite catalysts. The Co–Cu composite oxide was found to exhibit higher catalytic activity than several other Co₃O₄-based binary oxides including Co–Ce, Co–Ni, Co–Fe and Co–Zn oxides.     

Preparation of some supported metallic catalysts from metallic cluster carbonyls

An examination was made of the adsorption of some metallic cluster carbonyls (MCCs), Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₂, Co₃Rh(CO)₁₂, Co₄(CO)₁₂, Ir₄(CO)₁₂, Rh₆(CO)₁₆, and Ru₃(CO)₁₂, from nonaqueous solution onto two typical catalyst supports, γ-alumina and Aerosil silica. With two MCCs, Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₂ and Ir₄(CO)₁₂, dispersed metallic catalysts were generated, and a study was made of how the main experimental conditions affected the metallic dispersion. MCC adsorption was more facile on γ-alumina than on silica and was often assisted by the presence of oxygen. An ir study showed that initial adsorption of Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₂ on γ-alumina occurred with the loss of bridging carbonyls, the remaining carbonyls being progressively lost at temperatures >300 K, while adsorption of Ir₄(CO)₂ on γ-alumina resulted in progressive carbonyl loss at 320–620 K. Strong adsorption involves carbonyl loss, probably by ligand exchange with a surface anion, and the effect of oxygen is probably oxidative decarbonylation. Catalysts prepared from Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₂ or Ir₄(CO)₁₂ were relatively highly dispersed (D ≈ 0.4-1 depending on conditions), and Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₂ gave a much higher dispersion than was obtained by conventional impregnation using aqueous salt solutions. MCC adsorption in the presence of oxygen favored higher dispersions.     

Immobilized Co/Rh Heterobimetallic Nanoparticle‐Catalyzed Pauson–Khand‐Type Reaction

Co/Rh heterobimetallic nanoparticles were prepared from cobalt‐rhodium carbonyl clusters [Co₂Rh₂(CO)₁₂ and Co₃Rh(CO)₁₂] and immobilized on charcoal. HR‐TEM revealed that the size of the heterobimetallic nanoparticles was ca. 2 nm and ICP‐AES analysis showed a 2 : 2 and a 3 : 1 cobalt‐rhodium stoichiometry (Co₂Rh₂ and Co₃Rh₁) in the heterobimetallic nanoparticles. The Co/Rh heterobimetallic nanoparticles immobilized on charcoal were used as a catalyst in the Pauson–Khand‐type reaction under 1 atm of CO. The catalytic reactivity was highly dependent upon the ratio of Co : Rh with the highest reactivity being observed when the ratio was 2 : 2 (Co₂Rh₂). The Co₂Rh₂ immobilized catalyst is quite an effective catalyst for intra‐ and intermolecular Pauson–Khand‐type reactions. When the immobilized Co₂Rh₂ catalyst was used as a catalyst in the Pauson–Khand‐type reaction in the presence of an aldehyde instead of carbon monoxide, the catalytic system was highly efficient. When the reaction was carried out in the presence of chiral diphosphines, ee values up to 87% were observed. The catalytic system can be reused at least five times in the presence of chiral diphosphines without loss of catalytic activity and enantioselectivity. The addition of Hg(0), a known heterogeneous catalyst poison, completely inhibits further catalysis. Thus, an environmentally friendly and sustainable process was developed.     

Use of semi-rigid polyyne ligands to direct the shapes of metal clusters. The reaction of Pt2Ru4(CO)18 with o-bis(phenylethynyl) benzene

The reaction of Pt₂Ru₄(CO)₁₈ (1) with o-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene (2) has yielded the product Pt₂Ru₄(CO)₁₄[μ₅-C₆H₄(C₂Ph₂)₂] (3) which exhibits an unexpected ‘raft’ structure for the six metal atoms. Both alkyne groups are coordinated to the same side of the cluster as triple bridges across neighboring PtRu₂ triangles. Compound 3 has two valence electrons less than the 90 electron configuration usually observed for raft clusters.