Core-Shell Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks for Enhanced Hydrogen Storage.

Core-shell ZIF-8@ZIF-67- and ZIF-67@ZIF-8-based zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) were synthesized solvothermally using a seed-mediated methodology. Transmission electron microscopy-energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, line scan, elemental mapping, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy analyses were performed to confirm the formation of a core-shell structure with the controlled Co/Zn elemental composition of ∼0.50 for both the core-shell ZIFs. The synthesized core-shell ZIF-8@ZIF-67 and ZIF-67@ZIF-8 frameworks conferred enhanced H2 (2.03 and 1.69 wt %) storage properties at 77 K and 1 bar, which are ca. 41 and 18%, respectively, higher than that of the parent ZIF-8. Notably, the distinctly remarkable H2 storage properties shown by both the core-shell ZIFs over the bimetallic Co/Zn-ZIF and the physical mixture of ZIF-8 and ZIF-67 clearly evidenced their unique structural properties (confinement of porosity) and elemental heterogeneity due to the core-shell morphology of the outperforming core-shell ZIFs. Moreover, H2 adsorption isotherm data of these frameworks are best fitted with the Langmuir model (R 2 ≥ 0.9999). Along with the remarkably enhanced H2 storage capacities, the core-shell ZIFs also displayed an improved CO2 capture behavior. Hence, we demonstrated here that the controlled structural features endorsed by the rationally designed porous materials may find high potential in H2 storage applications.

C-H Bond Activation/Arylation Catalyzed by Arene-Ruthenium-Aniline Complexes in Water.

Water-soluble arene-ruthenium complexes coordinated with readily available aniline-based ligands were successfully employed as highly active catalysts in the C-H bond activation and arylation of 2-phenylpyridine with aryl halides in water. A variety of (hetero)aryl halides were also used for the ortho-C-H bond arylation of 2-phenylpyridine to afford the corresponding ortho- monoarylated products as major products in moderate to good yields. Our investigations, including time-scaled NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry studies, evidenced that the coordinating aniline-based ligands, having varying electronic and steric properties, had a significant influence on the catalytic activity of the resulting arene-ruthenium-aniline-based complexes. Moreover, mass spectrometry identification of the cycloruthenated species, {(η6 -arene)Ru(κ2 -C,N-phenylpyridine)}+ , and several ligand-coordinated cycloruthenated species, such as [(η6 -arene)Ru(4-methylaniline)(κ2 -C,N-phenylpyridine)]+ , found during the reaction of 2-phenylpyridine with the arene-ruthenium-aniline complexes further authenticated the crucial roles of these species in the observed highly active and tuned catalyst. At last, the structures of a few of the active catalysts were also confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.

Ruthenium-Catalyzed Oxidative Homocoupling of Arylboronic Acids in Water: Ligand Tuned Reactivity and Mechanistic Study.

Molecular catalysts based on water-soluble arene-Ru(II) complexes ([Ru]-1-[Ru]-5) containing aniline (L1), 2-methylaniline (L2), 2,6-dimethylaniline (L3), 4-methylaniline (L4), and 4-chloroaniline (L5) were designed for the homocoupling of arylboronic acids in water. These complexes were fully characterized by (1)H, (13)C NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analyses. Structural geometry for two of the representative arene-Ru(II) complexes [Ru]-3 and [Ru]-4 was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Our studies showed that the selectivity toward biaryls products is influenced by the position and the electronic behavior of various substituents of aniline ligand coordinated to ruthenium. Extensive investigations using (1)H NMR, (19)F NMR, and mass spectral studies provided insights into the mechanistic pathway of homocoupling of arylboronic acids, where the identification of important organometallic intermediates, such as σ-aryl/di(σ-aryl) coordinated arene-Ru(II) species, suggested that the reaction proceeds through the formation of crucial di(σ-aryl)-Ru intermediates by the interaction of arylboronic acid with Ru-catalyst to yield biaryl products.

Direct vs. indirect pathway for nitrobenzene reduction reaction on a Ni catalyst surface: a density functional study.

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations are performed to understand and address the previous experimental results that showed the reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline prefers direct over indirect reaction pathways irrespective of the catalyst surface. Nitrobenzene to aniline conversion occurs via the hydroxyl amine intermediate (direct pathway) or via the azoxybenzene intermediate (indirect pathway). Through our computational study we calculated the spin polarized and dispersion corrected reaction energies and activation barriers corresponding to various reaction pathways for the reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline over a Ni catalyst surface. The adsorption behaviour of the substrate, nitrobenzene, on the catalyst surface was also considered and the energetically most preferable structural orientation was elucidated. Our study indicates that the parallel adsorption behaviour of the molecules over a catalyst surface is preferable over vertical adsorption behaviour. Based on the reaction energies and activation barrier of the various elementary steps involved in direct or indirect reaction pathways, we find that the direct reduction pathway of nitrobenzene over the Ni(111) catalyst surface is more favourable than the indirect reaction pathway.

Room-temperature chemoselective reduction of nitro groups using non-noble metal nanocatalysts in water.

Purely aqueous-phase chemoselective reduction of a wide range of aromatic and aliphatic nitro substrates has been performed in the presence of inexpensive Ni- and Co-based nanoparticle catalysts using hydrazine hydrate as a reducing agent at room temperature. Along with the observed high conversions and selectivities, the studied nanoparticle catalysts also exhibit a high tolerance to other highly reducible groups present in the nitro substrates. The development of these potential chemoselective reduction catalysts also provides a facile route for the synthesis of other industrially important fine chemicals or biologically important compounds, where other highly reducible groups are present in close proximity to the targeted nitro groups.