Models Facilitating the Design of a New Metal‐Organic Framework Catalyst for the Selective Decomposition of Formic Acid into Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide

Liberation of carbon monoxide from formic acid mediated by molybdenum oxyanions

Multistage mass spectrometry experiments, isotope labelling and DFT calculations were used to explore whether selective decarbonylation of formic acid could be mediated by molybdate anions [(MoO3)x(OH)]- (x = 1 and 2) via a formal catalytic cycle involving two steps. In step 1, both molybdate anions undergo gas-phase ion-molecule reactions (IMR) with formic acid to produce the coordinated formates [(MoO3)x(O2CH)]- and H2O. In step 2, both coordinated formates [(MoO3)x(O2CH)]- undergo decarbonylation under collision-induced dissociation (CID) conditions to reform the molybdate anions [(MoO3)x(OH)]- (x = 1 and 2), thus closing a formal catalytic cycle. In the case of [MoO3(O2CH)]- an additional decarboxylation channel also occurs to yield [MoO3(H)]-, which is unreactive towards formic acid. The reaction between [Mo18O3(18OH)]- and formic acid gives rise to [Mo18O3(O2CH)]- highlighting that ligand substitution occurs without 18O/16O exchange between the coordinated 18OH ligand and HC16O2H. The reaction between [(MoO3)x(OD)]- (x = 1 and 2) and DCO2H initially produces [(MoO3)x(OH)]- (x = 1 and 2), indicating that D/H exchange occurs. DFT calculations were carried out to investigate the reaction mechanisms and energetics associated with both steps of the formal catalytic cycle and to better understand the competition between decarbonylation and decarboxylation, which is crucial in developing a selective catalyst. The CO and CO2 loss channels from the monomolybdate anion [MoO3(O2CH)]- have similar barrier heights which is in agreement with experimental results where both fragmentation channels are observed. In contrast, the dimolybdate anion is more selective, since the decarbonylation pathway of [(MoO3)2(O2CH)]- is both kinetically and thermodynamically favoured, which agrees with experimental observations where the CO loss channel is solely observed.

Near thermal, selective liberation of hydrogen from formic acid catalysed by copper hydride ate complexes

A near thermal two-step catalytic cycle for the selective release of hydrogen from formic acid by mononuclear cuprate anions was revealed using multistage mass spectrometry experiments, deuterium labelling and DFT calculations. In gas-phase ion-molecule reactions, mononuclear copper hydride anions [(L)Cu(H)]^- (where L = H^-, O₂CH^-, BH₄^- and CN^-) were found to react with formic acid (HCO₂H) to yield [(L)Cu(O₂CH)]^- and H₂. The copper formate anions [(L)Cu(O₂CH)]^- can decarboxylate via collision-induced dissociation (CID) to reform the copper hydride [(L)Cu(H)]^-, thereby closing the two-step catalytic cycle. Analogous labelling experiments with d₁-formic acid (DCO₂H) reveal that the decarboxylation process also occurs spontaneously. A kinetic study was carried out to provide further insights into the species involved in this reaction. Energetics from density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the key decarboxylation step can occur without CID, thus in support of experimental observations.

ORGANOMETALLIC GAS-PHASE ION CHEMISTRY AND CATALYSIS: INSIGHTS INTO THE USE OF METAL CATALYSTS TO PROMOTE SELECTIVITY IN THE REACTIONS OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS AND THEIR DERIVATIVES

Carboxylic acids are valuable organic substrates as they are widely available, easy to handle, and exhibit structural and functional variety. While they are used in many standard synthetic protocols, over the past two decades numerous studies have explored new modes of metal-mediated reactivity of carboxylic acids and their derivatives. Mass spectrometry-based studies can provide fundamental mechanistic insights into these new modes of reactivity. Here gas-phase models for the following catalytic transformations of carboxylic acids and their derivatives are reviewed: protodecarboxylation; dehydration; decarbonylation; reaction as coordinated bases in C-H bond activation; remote functionalization and decarboxylative C-C bond coupling. In each case the catalytic problem is defined, insights from gas-phase studies are highlighted, comparisons with condensed-phase systems are made and perspectives are reached. Finally, the potential role for mechanistic studies that integrate both gas- and condensed-phase studies is highlighted by recent studies on the discovery of new catalysts for the selective decomposition of formic acid and the invention of the new extrusion-insertion class of reactions for the synthesis of amides, thioamides, and amidines. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Mass Spec Rev.

Advances in Nonprecious Metal Homogeneously Catalyzed Formic Acid Dehydrogenation

Formic acid (FA) possesses a high volumetric concentration of H2 (53 g L−1). Moreover, it can be easily prepared, stored, and transported. Therefore, FA stands out as a potential liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC), which allows storage and transportation of hydrogen in a safe way. The dehydrogenation to produce H2 and CO2 competes with its dehydration to give CO and H2O. For this reason, research on selective catalytic FA dehydrogenation has gained attention in recent years. Several examples of highly active homogenous catalysts based on precious metals effective for the selective dehydrogenation of FA have been reported. Among them are the binuclear iridium-bipyridine catalysts described by Fujita and Himeda et al. (TOF = 228,000 h−1) and the cationic species [IrClCp*(2,2′-bi-2-imidazoline)]Cl (TOF = 487,500 h−1). However, examples of catalytic systems effective for the solventless dehydrogenation of FA, which is of great interest since it allows to reduce the reaction volume and avoids the use of organic solvents that could damage the fuel cell, are scarce. In this context, the development of transition metal catalysts based on cheap and easily available nonprecious metals is a subject of great interest. This work contains a summary on the state of the art of catalytic dehydrogenation of FA in homogeneous phase, together with an account of the catalytic systems based on non-precious metals so far reported.

Spectroscopy and photochemistry of copper nitrate clusters

The investigation of copper nitrate cluster anions Cu(ii)n(NO3)2n+1-, n ≤ 4, in the gas phase using ultraviolet/visible/near-infrared (UV/vis/NIR) spectroscopy provides detailed insight into the electronic structure of the copper salt and its intriguing photochemistry. In the experimentally studied region up to 5.5 eV, the spectra of copper(ii) nitrate exhibit a 3d-3d band in the vis/NIR and well-separated bands in the UV. The latter bands originate from Ligand-to-Metal Charge Transfer (LMCT) as well as n-π* transitions in the nitrate ligands. The clusters predominantly decompose by loss of neutral copper nitrate in the electronic ground state after internal conversion or via the photochemical loss of a neutral NO3 ligand after a LMCT. These two decomposition channels are in direct competition on the ground state potential energy surface for the smallest copper nitrate cluster, Cu(ii)(NO3)3-. Here, copper nitrate evaporation is thermochemically less favorable. Population of π* orbitals in the nitrate ligands may lead to N-O bond photolysis. This is observed in the UV region with a small quantum efficiency, with photochemical loss of either nitrogen dioxide or an oxygen atom.

Gas-phase studies of copper(I)-mediated CO2 extrusion followed by insertion of the heterocumulenes CS2 or phenylisocyanate

The gas-phase extrusion-insertion reactions of the copper complex [bathophenanthroline (Bphen)CuI (O2 CC6 H5 )]2- , generated via electrospray ionization, was studied in a linear ion trap mass spectrometer with the combination of collision-induced dissociation (CID) and ion-molecule reaction (IMR) events. Multistage mass spectrometry (MSn ) experiments and density functional theory (DFT) demonstrated that extrusion of carbon dioxide from [(Bphen)Cu(O2 CC6 H5 )]2- (CID) gives the organometallic intermediate [(Bphen)Cu(C6 H5 )]2- , which subsequently reacts with carbon disulfide (IMR) via insertion to yield [(Bphen)Cu (SC(S)C6 H5 )]2- . The fragmentation of the product ion resulted in the formation of [Bphen]2- , [(Bphen)Cu]- and C6 H5 CS2 - under CID conditions. The formation of the latter two charge separation products thus provides evidence of C-C bond formation in the IMR step. Although analogous studies with isocyanate, which is isoelectronic with CS2 , showed a poor reactivity in the gas phase, the mechanistic understanding obtained from these model studies encourages future development of a solution phase protocol for the synthesis of amides from carboxylic acids and isocyanates mediated by copper(I) complexes.