Transesterification of diethyl oxalate with phenol over sol-gel MoO(3)/TiO(2) catalysts.

The transesterification of diethyl oxalate (DEO) with phenol to form diphenyl oxalate (DPO) has been carried out in the liquid phase over very efficient MoO(3)/TiO(2) solid-acid sol-gel catalysts. A selectivity of 100 % with a remarkable maximum yield of 88 % were obtained, which opens the route to downstream phosgene-free processes for the synthesis of polycarbonates. Interpretation of the results of various acidity measurements (NH(3) and pyridine desorption, methanol oxidation as a probe reaction) allowed us to identify the catalytic sites as Lewis acid sites.

Selective conversion of {Mo132} Keplerate ion into 4-electron reduced crown-capped Keggin derivative [Te5Mo15O57](8-). A key intermediate to single-phase M1 multielement MoVTeO light-alkanes oxidation catalyst.

{Mo(132)} Keplerate anion reacts with tellurites to give a soluble precursor to produce in hydrothermal conditions single-phase M1 MoVTeO light-alkanes oxidation catalyst. Characterization of this Te-containing intermediate by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, (125)Te NMR, UV-visible and redox titration reveals a molybdotellurite anion as a crown-capped Keggin derivative.

Preparation and characterization of 6-molybdocobaltate and 6-molybdoaluminate cobalt salts. Evidence of a new heteropolymolybdate structure.

Molybdenum and cobalt based heteropolyanions (HPAs) could be used as an alternative to the conventional ammonium heptamolybdate and cobalt nitrate starting materials for friendly environmental preparation of Co-Mo/Al2O3 hydrotreating catalysts. In this aim, cobalt salts of molybdocobaltate and molydboaluminate Anderson HPAs have been synthesized and characterized by TGA, XRD, XAS, and vibrational spectroscopies. The crystal structure refinement provided evidence for the formation of a new heteropolyoxomolybdate derived from the well-known Anderson structure.