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Title: Mechanistic Investigations of Gas-Phase Catalytic Hydrogenation in Metal–Organic Frameworks: Cooperative Activity of the Metal and Linker Sites in CuxRh3–x(BTC)2

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry. C

We report the CuxRh3–x(BTC)2 catalyst (abbreviated CuRhBTC, BTC3– = benzene tricarboxylate) provides excellent dispersion of active metal sites coupled with well-defined, robust structures for propylene hydrogenation reactions. This material therefore serves as a unique prototype for understanding catalytic activity in metal organic frameworks (MOFs). The mechanism of gas-phase hydrogenation at the bimetallic metal nodes of a MOF has been investigated in detail for the first time using in situ spectroscopy and diffraction experiments combined with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The reaction occurs via a cooperative process in which the metal and linker sites play complementary roles; specifically, H2 is dissociated at a Rh2+ site with a missing Rh–O bond, while protonation of the decoordinated carboxylate linker stabilizes the active sites and promotes H2 dissociation. In situ X-ray diffraction experiments show that the crystalline structure of the MOF is retained under reaction conditions at 20–100 °C. In situ Raman spectroscopy and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) experiments demonstrate that propylene adsorbs at both Rh2+ and Cu2+ sites via π bonding. Cu2+ is catalytically inactive, but at Rh2+ sites, a propyl intermediate is observed when H2 is introduced into the propylene feed. Furthermore, the appearance of the O–H stretch of COOH at ~3690 cm–1 in the DRIFT spectra is characteristic of defects consisting of missing Rh–O bonds. These experimental results are in general agreement with a reaction mechanism proposed by DFT, in which the decoordinated carboxylate linker is protonated, and the active Rh2+ site remains available for readsorption of reactants in the subsequent catalytic cycle.

Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States); University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division (CSGB); University of South Carolina
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704; SC0019360
OSTI ID:
3006272
Report Number(s):
BNL-223429-2022-JAAM
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry. C, Journal Name: Journal of Physical Chemistry. C Journal Issue: 28 Vol. 126; ISSN 1932-7455; ISSN 1932-7447
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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  • Beyzavi, M. Hassan; Klet, Rachel C.; Tussupbayev, Samat
  • Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 136, Issue 45, p. 15861-15864 https://doi.org/10.1021/ja508626n
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