Search Results (11)

The discovery of heterogeneous catalysts synthesized in easy, sustainable ways for the valorization of olefins derived from renewable biomass is attractive from environmental, sustainability, and economic viewpoints. Here, an organic–inorganic hybrid catalyst formulated as [MoO₃(Hpto)]·H₂O (2), where Hpto = 5-(2-pyridyl-1-oxide)tetrazole, was prepared by a hydrolysis–condensation reaction of the complex [MoO₂Cl₂(Hpto)]∙THF (1). The characterization of 1 and 2 by FT-IR and Raman spectroscopies, as well as ¹³C solid-state NMR, suggests that the bidentate N,O-coordination of Hpto in 1 (forming a six-membered chelate ring, confirmed by X-ray crystallography) is maintained in 2, with the ligand coordinated to a molybdenum oxide substructure. Catalytic studies suggested that 2 is a rare case of a molybdenum oxide/organic hybrid that acts as a stable solid catalyst for olefin epoxidation with tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The catalyst was effective for converting biobased olefins, namely fatty acid methyl esters (methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, methyl linolenate, and methyl ricinoleate) and the terpene limonene, leading predominantly to the corresponding epoxide products with yields in the range of 85–100% after 24 h at 70 °C. The versatility of catalyst 2 was shown by its effectiveness for the oxidation of sulfides into sulfoxides and sulfones, at 35 °C (quantitative yield of sulfoxide plus sulfone, at 24 h; sulfone yields in the range of 77–86%). To the best of our knowledge, 2 is the first molybdenum catalyst reported for methyl linolenate epoxidation, and the first of the family [MoO₃(L)_x] studied for methyl ricinoleate epoxidation. Full article

Olefin epoxidation is an important transformation for the chemical valorization of olefins, which may derive from renewable sources or domestic/industrial waste. Different post-synthesis strategies were employed to introduce molybdenum species into mesostructured and hierarchical micro-mesoporous catalysts of the type TUD-1 and BEA, respectively, to confer epoxidation activity for the conversion of relatively bulky olefins (e.g., biobased methyl oleate, DL-limonene) to epoxide products, using tert-butyl hydroperoxide as an oxidant. The influences of (i) the type of metal precursor, (ii) type of post-synthesis impregnation method, (iii) type of support and (iv) top-down versus bottom-up synthesis methodologies were studied to achieve superior catalytic performances. Higher epoxidation activity was achieved for a material prepared via (post-synthesis) incipient wetness impregnation of MoO₂(acac)₂ (acac = acetylacetonate) on (pre-treated) siliceous TUD-1 and calcination; for example, methyl oleate was converted to the corresponding epoxide with 100% selectivity at 89% conversion (70 °C). Catalytic and solid-state characterization studies were conducted to shed light on material stability phenomena. Full article

There is a considerable practical interest in discovering new ways to obtain organomolybdenum heterogeneous catalysts for olefin epoxidation that are easier to recover and reuse and display enhanced productivity. In this study, the complex salt (H₂pytz)[MoO₂Cl₂(pytz)] (1) (Hpytz = 5-(2-pyridyl)tetrazole) has been prepared, structurally characterized, and employed as a precursor for the hydrolysis-based synthesis of a microcrystalline molybdenum oxide/organic hybrid material formulated as [MoO₃(Hpytz)] (2). In addition to single-crystal X-ray diffraction (for 1), compounds 1 and 2 were characterized by FT-IR and Raman spectroscopies, solid-state ¹³C{¹H} cross-polarization (CP) magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated as olefin epoxidation catalysts using the model reaction of cis-cyclooctene (Cy8) with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), at 70 °C, which gave 100% epoxide selectivity up to 100% conversion. While 1 behaved as a homogeneous catalyst, hybrid 2 behaved as a heterogeneous catalyst and could be recovered for recycling without showing structural degradation or loss of catalytic performance over consecutive reaction cycles. The substrate scope was broadened to monoterpene DL-limonene (Lim) and biobased unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters, methyl oleate (MeOle), and methyl linoleate (MeLin), which gave predominantly epoxide products. Full article

The molybdenum(0)-carbonyl-triazole complexes [Mo(CO)₃(L)₃] [L = 1,2,3-triazole (1,2,3-trz) or 1,2,4-triazole (1,2,4-trz)] have been prepared and examined as precursors to molybdenum(VI) oxide catalysts for the epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene. Reaction of the carbonyl complexes with the oxidant tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) (either separately or in situ) gives oxomolybdenum(VI) hybrid materials that are proposed to possess one-dimensional polymeric structures in which adjacent oxo-bridged dioxomolybdenum(VI) moieties are further linked by bidentate bridging triazole (trz) ligands. A pronounced ligand influence on catalytic performance was found and the best result (quantitative epoxide yield within 1 h at 70 °C) was obtained with the 1,2,3-triazole oxomolybdenum(VI) hybrid. Both molybdenum oxide-triazole compounds displayed superior catalytic performance in comparison with the known hybrid materials [MoO₃(trz)_0.5], which have different structures based on organic-inorganic perovskite-like layers. With aqueous H₂O₂ as the oxidant instead of TBHP, all compounds were completely soluble and active. A pronounced ligand influence on catalytic performance was only found for the hybrids [MoO₃(trz)_0.5], and only the 1,2,4-trz compound displayed reaction-induced self-precipitation behavior. An insight into the type of solution species that may be involved in the catalytic processes with these compounds was obtained by separately treating [MoO₃(1,2,4-trz)_0.5] with excess H₂O₂, which led to the crystallization of the complex (NH₄)_1.8(H₃O)_0.2[Mo₂O₂(μ₂-O)(O₂)₄(1,2,4-trz)]·H₂O. The single-crystal X-ray investigation of this complex reveals an oxo-bridged dinuclear structure with oxodiperoxo groups being further linked by a single triazole bridge. Full article

This work proposes an efficient desulfurization system to produce low sulfur diesel under sustainable and moderate experimental conditions. Treatment of a real diesel with a sulfur content of 2300 ppm led to 80% desulfurization after 2 h. The processes used conciliate liquid-liquid extraction and sulfur oxidative catalysis. The catalytic performance of the commercial Keggin-polyoxomolybdate H₃[PMo₁₂O₄₀] (PMo₁₂) was strategically increased by simple cation exchange, using a long carbon chain (ODAPMo₁₂, ODA = CH₃(CH₂)₁₇(CH₃)₃N), and by its incorporation into the Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) NH₂-MIL-101(Cr), forming a new active heterogeneous PMo₁₂@MOF composite catalyst. Activity of both catalysts was similar; however, the solid catalyst could be easily recovered and reused, and its stability was confirmed after multiple continuous cycles. Full article

Micro/mesoporous chromium, aluminium-containing silicates of the type TUD-1 (Al-TUD-1, Cr-TUD-1, CrAl-TUD-1) and zeolite BEA, Cr-BEA, and related composites BEA/TUD-1 and Cr-BEA/TUD-1, were prepared, characterised, and tested as solid acids coupled with the ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([bmim]Cl) as solvent, in the transformation of d-glucose into 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde (Hmf), at 120 °C. The chromium-containing catalytic systems lead to considerably higher Hmf yields in comparison to the related systems without chromium. The IL is a favourable solvent for this target reaction (in terms of Hmf yields reached) compared to water or dimethylsulfoxide. A detailed study on the stabilities of the nanoporous solid acids in the IL medium is presented. Full article

The one-pot acid-catalysed conversion of mono/di/polysaccharides (inulin, xylan, cellobiose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, xylose) into 2-furfuraldehyde (FUR) or 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in the presence of aluminium-containing mesoporous TUD-1 (denoted as Al-TUD-1, Si/Al = 21), at 170 ºC was investigated. Xylose gave 60% FUR yield after 6 h reaction; hexose-based mono/disaccharides gave less than 20% HMF yield; polysaccharides gave less than 20 wt % FUR or HMF yields after 6 h. For four consecutive 6 h batches of the xylose reaction in the presence of Al-TUD-1, the FUR yields achieved were similar, without significant changes in Si/Al ratio. Full article

The oxodiperoxo complex MoO(O₂)₂(tbbpy) (tbbpy = 4,4'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'- bipyridine) was isolated from the reaction of MoO₂Cl₂(tbbpy) in water under microwaveassisted heating at 120 ºC for 4 h. The structure of the oxodiperoxo complex was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The Mo^VI centre is seven-coordinated with a geometry which strongly resembles a highly distorted bipyramid. Individual MoO(O₂)₂(tbbpy) complexes are interdigitated along the [010] direction to form a column. The crystal structure is formed by the close packing of the columnar-stacked complexes. Interactions between neighbouring columns are essentially of van der Waals type mediated by the need to effectively fill the available space. Full article

We report the one-step syntheses in good yields of the complexes cis-[M(CO)₄(pzpy)] {M = Mo, W; pzpy = ethyl[3-(2-pyridyl)-1-pyrazolyl]acetate} directlyfrom the corresponding M(CO)₆ starting materials by using microwave-assisted heatingand reaction times of either 30 s (M = Mo) or 15 min (M = W). The structure of themolybdenum tetracarbonyl complex was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction.The compound is monomeric and the molybdenum atom has a highly distorted octahedralgeometry. The close packing of the individual cis-[Mo(CO)4(pzpy)] species is essentiallydriven by the need to fill the space effectively, closely mediated by weak C–H···O andπ···π interactions. Full article

Reaction of NaH with a THF solution of Eu(BTA)3(pypzH) [BTA = 1-benzoyl-3,3,3-trifluoroacetonate, pypzH = 2-(3-pyrazolyl)pyridine] leads to the formation of theeuropium-free tetrasodium complex [Na₄(pypzH)₂(μ4-BTA)₂(μ2-BTA)₂]. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed the presence of a centrosymmetric Na hybrid tetramer,which fully occupies the contents of the triclinic unit cell. The crystal structure containstwo individual Na cations, Na(1) and Na(2), which have highly irregular {NaN₂O₃} and{NaO₆} local coordination environments, respectively. One of the key features is thepresence of a central {Na₄O₆} core, which is unprecedented for Na . Externally to this{Na₄O₆} cluster pyrazolylpyridine organic molecules are N,N-chelated to Na(1). Eventhough all of the organic residues contain aromatic rings, the crystal packing of individualcentrosymmetric tetrasodium [Na₄(pypzH)₂(μ4-BTA)₂(μ2-BTA)₂] molecular moieties isessentially driven through geometrical aspects combined with weak C–H···π interactions,rather than the expected a priori π-π interactions. The material also contains classicalstrong hydrogen bonds, even though these do not directly contribute to the packingdriving forces. Full article

The tetrahedral triphenylsiloxy complex MoO₂(OSiPh₃)₂ (1) and its Lewis baseadduct with 2,2'-bipyridine, MoO₂(OSiPh₃)₂(bpy) (2), were prepared and characterised byIR/Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Both compounds catalyse theepoxidation of cis-cyclooctene at 55 ^oC using tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BuOOH) isdecane as the oxidant, giving 1,2-epoxycyclooctane as the only product. The best resultswere obtained in the absence of a co-solvent (other than the decane) or in the presence of1,2-dichloroethane, while much lower activities were obtained when hexane oracetonitrile were added. With no co-solvent, catalyst 1 (initial activity 272 mol·molMo^-1·h^-1for a catalyst:substrate: oxidant molar ratio of 1:100:150) is much more active than 2(initial activity 12 mol·molMo^–1·h^–1). The initial reaction rates showed first orderdependence with respect to the initial concentration of olefin. With respect to the initialamount of oxidant, the rate order dependence for 1 (1.9) was higher than that for 2 (1.6).The dependence of the initial reaction rate on reaction temperature and initial amount ofcatalyst was also studied for both catalysts. The lower apparent activation energy of 1 (11kcal·mol^–1) as compared with 2 (20 kcal·mol^–1) is in accordance with the higher activity ofthe former. Full article