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Title: Tailoring nanoscopic confines to maximize catalytic activity of hydronium ions

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms15442· OSTI ID:1643787

Acid catalysis by hydronium ions is ubiquitous in aqueous-phase organic reactions. Here we show that hydronium ion catalysis, exemplified by intramolecular dehydration of cyclohexanol, is markedly influenced by steric constraints, yielding turnover rates that increase by up to two orders of magnitude in tight confines relative to an aqueous solution of a Brønsted acid. The higher activities in zeolites BEA and FAU than in water are caused by more positive activation entropies that more than offset higher activation enthalpies. The higher activity in zeolite MFI with pores smaller than BEA and FAU is caused by a lower activation enthalpy in the tighter confines that more than offsets a less positive activation entropy. Molecularly sized pores significantly enhance the association between hydronium ions and alcohols in a steric environment resembling the constraints in pockets of enzymes stabilizing active sites.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
1643787
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-154780
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Vol. 8
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (3)

The Nature and Catalytic Function of Cation Sites in Zeolites: a Computational Perspective journal October 2018
Influence of Hydronium Ions in Zeolites on Sorption journal March 2019
Influence of Hydronium Ions in Zeolites on Sorption journal March 2019

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