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Spectroscopic Investigation of the Species Involved in the Rhodium-Catalyzed Oxidative Carbonylation of Toluene to Toluic Acid

Journal Article · · Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP, 11(42):9903-9911
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/b906883j· OSTI ID:972968

A spectroscopic investigation of complexes used to catalyze the oxidative carbonylation of toluene to para-toluic acid was conducted. Rhodium complexes were analyzed by 103Rh and 13C NMR, UV-visible spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. In the presence of vanadium and oxygen, the resting state of the Rh catalyst was found to exist as a Rh(III) complex with carbonyl and trifluoroacetate ligands, consistent with the structure Rh(CO)2(TFA)3. The complex exhibited a carbonyl peak with an unusual degree of shielding, which resulted in the appearance of the carbonyl peak at an unprecedented upfield position in the 13C NMR spectrum. This shielding was caused by interaction of the carbonyl group with the trifluoroacetate ligand. In the absence of oxygen, the Rh(III) complex reduced to Rh(I), and the reduced form exhibited properties resembling the catalyst precursor. Structures and spectroscopic properties calculated using Density Functional Theory were in good agreement with experimental results. The vanadium co-catalyst was similarly characterized by 51V NMR and UV-visible spectroscopy. The oxidized species corresponded to [(VO2)(TFA)]2, whereas the reduced species corresponded (VO)(TFA)2. The spectroscopic results obtained in this study confirm the identity of the species that have been proposed to be involved in the Rh-catalyzed oxidative carbonylation of toluene to toluic acid.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (US), Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-76RL01830
OSTI ID:
972968
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-66230; 29406; KP1704020
Journal Information:
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP, 11(42):9903-9911, Journal Name: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP, 11(42):9903-9911 Journal Issue: 42 Vol. 11
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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