Efficient Production of Adipic Acid by a Two-Step Catalytic Reaction of Biomass-Derived 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid.

Efficient catalytic ring-opening coupled with hydrogenation is a promising but challenging reaction for producing adipic acid (AA) from 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA). In this study, AA synthesis is carried out in two steps from FDCA via tetrahydrofuran-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (THFDCA) over a recyclable Ru/Al O and an ionic liquid, [MIM(CH ) SO H]I (MIM=methylimidazolium) to deliver 99 % overall yield of AA. Ru/Al O is found to be an efficient catalyst for hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis of FDCA to deliver THFDCA and 2-hydroxyadipic acid (HAA), respectively, where ruthenium is more economically viable than well-known palladium or rhodium hydrogenation catalysts.

Bioinspired Metal-Organic Framework Catalysts for Selective Methane Oxidation to Methanol.

Particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) is an enzyme that oxidizes methane to methanol with high activity and selectivity. Limited success has been achieved in incorporating biologically relevant ligands for the formation of such active site in a synthetic system. Here, we report the design and synthesis of metal-organic framework (MOF) catalysts inspired by pMMO for selective methane oxidation to methanol.

Identification of the strong Brønsted acid site in a metal-organic framework solid acid catalyst.

It remains difficult to understand the surface of solid acid catalysts at the molecular level, despite their importance for industrial catalytic applications. A sulfated zirconium-based metal-organic framework, MOF-808-SO, was previously shown to be a strong solid Brønsted acid material. In this report, we probe the origin of its acidity through an array of spectroscopic, crystallographic and computational characterization techniques.

Copper Nanocrystals Encapsulated in Zr-based Metal-Organic Frameworks for Highly Selective CO Hydrogenation to Methanol.

We show that the activity and selectivity of Cu catalyst can be promoted by a Zr-based metal-organic framework (MOF), ZrO(OH)(BDC) (BDC = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate), UiO-66, to have a strong interaction with Zr oxide [ZrO(OH)(-CO)] secondary building units (SBUs) of the MOF for CO hydrogenation to methanol. These interesting features are achieved by a catalyst composed of 18 nm single Cu nanocrystal (NC) encapsulated within single crystal UiO-66 (Cu⊂UiO-66). The performance of this catalyst construct exceeds the benchmark Cu/ZnO/AlO catalyst and gives a steady 8-fold enhanced yield and 100% selectivity for methanol.

Radial alignment of c-channel nanorods in 3D porous TiO2 for eliciting enhanced Li storage performance.

A c-channel formed inside stacked (001) planes in rutile TiO2 exhibits the lowest energy barrier for Li migration. Based on this rationale, we proposed a three-dimensional TiO2 sphere comprised of radially assembled c-channel specialized nanorods in order to maximize Li storage.

A mesoporous carbon-supported Pt nanocatalyst for the conversion of lignocellulose to sugar alcohols.

The conversion of lignocellulose is a crucial topic in the renewable and sustainable chemical industry. However, cellulose from lignocellulose is not soluble in polar solvents, and is, therefore, difficult to convert into value-added chemicals. A strategy to overcome this drawback is the use of mesoporous carbon, which enhances the affinity between the cellulose and the catalyst through its abundant functional groups and large uniform pores.

Quantification of electron transfer rates of different facets on single gold nanoparticles during catalytic reactions.

Rayleigh scattering spectra of high-index {730} elongated tetrahexahedral gold nanoparticles and low-index {100}, {110}, and {111} gold nanorods were collected in real time in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. The high-index facets are capable of accepting electrons seven times faster and emitting electrons two-and-a-half times faster than low-index facets.

Mesoporous siliconiobium phosphate as a pure Brønsted acid catalyst with excellent performance for the dehydration of glycerol to acrolein.

The development of solid acid catalysts that contain a high density of Brønsted acid sites with suitable acidity, as well as a long lifetime, is one of great challenges for the efficient dehydration of glycerol to acrolein. Herein, we report on a mesoporous siliconiobium phosphate (NbPSi-0.5) composite, which is a promising solid Brønsted acid that is a potential candidate for such a high-performance catalyst.