Selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides catalyzed by ruthenium (III) meso-tetraphenylporphyrin chloride in the presence of molecular oxygen

Computational Evaluation of Potential Molecular Catalysts for Nitrous Oxide Decomposition

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) with limited use as a mild anesthetic and underdeveloped reactivity. Nitrous oxide splitting (decomposition) is critical to its mitigation as a GHG. Although heterogeneous catalysts for N₂O decomposition have been developed, highly efficient, long-lived solid catalysts are still needed, and the details of the catalytic pathways are not well understood. Reported herein is a computational evaluation of three potential molecular (homogeneous) catalysts for N₂O splitting, which could aid in the development of more active and robust catalysts and provide deeper mechanistic insights: one Cu(I)-based, [(CF₃O)₄Al]Cu (A-1), and two Ru(III)-based, Cl(POR)Ru (B-1) and (NTA)Ru (C-1) (POR = porphyrin, NTA = nitrilotriacetate). The structures and energetic viability of potential intermediates and key transition states are evaluated according to a two-stage reaction pathway: (A) deoxygenation (DO), during which a metal-N₂O complex undergoes N-O bond cleavage to produce N₂ and a metal-oxo species and (B) (di)oxygen evolution (OER), in which the metal-oxo species dimerizes to a dimetal-peroxo complex, followed by conversion to a metal-dioxygen species from which dioxygen dissociates. For the (F-L)Cu(I) activator (A-1), deoxygenation of N₂O is facilitated by an O-bound (F-L)Cu-O-N₂ or better by a bimetallic N,O-bonded, (F-L)Cu-NNO-Cu(F-L) complex; the resulting copper-oxyl (F-L)Cu-O is converted exergonically to (F-L)Cu-(η²,η²-O₂)-Cu(F-L), which leads to dioxygen species (F-L)Cu(η²-O₂), that favorably dissociates O₂. Key features of the DO/OER process for (POR)ClRu (B-1) include endergonic N₂O coordination, facile N₂ evolution from LR'u-N₂O-RuL to Cl(POR)RuO, moderate barrier coupling of Cl(POR)RuO to peroxo Cl(POR)Ru(O₂)Ru(POR)Cl, and eventual O₂ dissociation from Cl(POR)Ru(η¹-O₂), which is nearly thermoneutral. N₂O decomposition promoted by (NTA)Ru(III) (C-1) can proceed with exergonic N₂O coordination, facile N₂ dissociation from (NTA)Ru-ON₂ or (NTA)Ru-N₂O-Ru(NTA) to form (NTA)Ru-O; dimerization of the (NTA)Ru-oxo species is facile to produce (NTA)Ru-O-O-Ru(NTA), and subsequent OE from the peroxo species is moderately endergonic. Considering the overall energetics, (F-L)Cu and Cl(POR)Ru derivatives are deemed the best candidates for promoting facile N₂O decomposition.

Aerobic Photocatalysis: Oxidation of Sulfides to Sulfoxides

Sulfoxides constitute one of the most important functional groups in organic chemistry found in numerous pharmaceuticals and natural products. Sulfoxides are usually obtained from the oxidation of the corresponding sulfides. Among various oxidants, oxygen or air are considered the greenest and most sustainable reagent. Photochemistry and photocatalysis is increasingly applied in new, as well as traditional, yet demanding, reaction, like the aerobic oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides, since photocatalysis has provided the means to access them in mild and effective ways. In this review, we will summarize the photochemical protocols that have been developed for the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides, employing air or oxygen as the oxidant. The aim of this review is to present: i) a historical overview, ii) the key mechanistic studies and proposed mechanisms and iii) categorize the different catalytic systems in literature.

Highly efficient Co(II) porphyrin catalysts for the extractive oxidative desulfurization of dibenzothiophene in fuel oils under mild conditions

Co(II) porphyrins have been utilized as efficient and selective catalysts for the extractive oxidative desulfurization reaction on the refractory dibenzothiophene (DBT) in [Formula: see text]-dodecane (model middle distillate fuel oil). The acetonitrile was taken as extracting polar solvent and H2O2 was used as oxidant. The reaction optimization was done with respect to DBT:catalyst molar ratio; DBT:H2O2 molar ratio; extracting solvent: CH3CN/[Formula: see text]-dodecane volume ratio; reaction temperature and time. Under the optimized conditions, a maximum of [Formula: see text]98% DBT removal was achieved by using the meso-tetrakis(4[Formula: see text] methoxyphenyl)porphyrinatocobalt(II) as catalyst under mild conditions at 50[Formula: see text]C.

Catalytic reaction system for rapid selective oxidation of alkyl sulphide

Highly efficient catalytic reaction systems are developed to rapidly and selectively oxidize 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES). In the systems, precursors containing bromide(s) and nitrate anions are chosen for the development of cyclic catalytic loop and the effect of acids on the selective oxidation of CEES are investigated by the addition of several homogeneous acid catalysts. The experimental results reveal that addition of acid results in a higher concentration of tribromide, which is reported as a key component for the observed activity in the catalytic solution. As a consequence, a dramatic improvement in catalytic activity is observed, especially when the molar amount of acid is controlled to be more than twice the initial concentration of tribromide. For the efficient design of a catalytic system, heterogeneous acid catalysts possessing different ratios of Brønsted to Lewis acid sites are also considered. Compared to reaction systems catalysed by homogeneous acids, similar reaction behaviour is observed for the reaction with Amerlyst-15, while those with other heterogeneous catalysts, containing Lewis or mixed acid sites in their structure, exhibits an adverse effect of selective sulfoxidation, mainly due to the adsorption of anions onto Lewis sites and consequential deconstruction of the catalytic loop.

Mechanistic reaction model for oxidation of sulfur mustard simulant by a catalytic system of nitrate and tribromide

A new metal-free catalytic reaction system is developed to selectively oxidize 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), a surrogate of sulfur mustard. The combination of two catalytic precursors, tribromide and nitrate, allows a rapid sulfoxidation of CEES even at ambient conditions. The kinetic behaviours at various reaction conditions are investigated to identify the most probable reaction pathways of the development of catalytic loop and the overall reaction steps of CEES sulfoxidation. The mechanistic study demonstrates that the catalytic loop does not require an addition of mineral acid or water, which is common in most other reaction systems. Incomplete catalytic systems with one precursor are also examined to uncover the complex network of sulfoxidation in the catalytic reaction system. The results reveal that the complex between CEES and bromine is a reactive intermediate, bromosulfonium, which can be further catalysed and converted into sulfoxide by nitrate. Based on the proposed reaction mechanism, a predictive kinetic model fully describing most reaction behaviours is developed.

Highly selective and efficient oxidation of sulfide to sulfoxide catalyzed by platinum porphyrins

Two platinum porphyrins, meso-tetramesitylporphyrinatoplatinum and meso-tetrakis(pentaflourophenyl) porphyrinatoplatinum, are explored for catalytic application in the selective oxidation of sulfide to sulfoxide by iodosylbenzene. The obtained overall turnover number of 90,000 in the oxidation of thioanisole in the presence of meso-tetrakis(pentaflourophenyl) porphyrinatoplatinum indicates the pronounced catalytic activity of the platinum porphyrins. Perfect selectivity toward sulfoxide or sulfone also was achieved via stoichiometric control of reactants.

Visible light catalyzed methylsulfoxidation of (het)aryl diazonium salts using DMSO

The visible light catalyzed methylsulfoxidation of (het)aryl diazonium salts using DMSO is illustrated.

Catalytic oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols over a novel TCPP/Zn–Fe2O4@ZnO catalyst

The catalytic activity of TCPP/Zn–Fe₂O₄@ZnO as a recyclable and high efficiency heterogeneous catalyst for oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols using H₂O₂as a green oxidant under reflux conditions in CH₃CN was investigated.

Kinetic investigation on the highly efficient and selective oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones with t-BuOOH catalyzed by La2O3

An efficient and highly selective methodology for the oxidation of various sulfides with 70% t-BuOOH as oxidant in the presence of catalytic amounts of La₂O₃ is described.

A novel iron complex containing an N,O-type bidentate oxazoline ligand: Synthesis, X-ray studies, DFT calculations and catalytic activity

A five-coordinated Fe(III) complex with the distorted trigonal bipyramidal configuration was synthesized by reactions of FeCl3⋅6H2O and 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)oxazoline (Hphox) as a bidentate ON donor oxazoline ligand. Complex [Fe(phox)2Cl] was fully characterized, including by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. DFT calculations were accompanied with experimental results in order to obtain a deeper insight into the electronic structure and vibrational normal modes of complex. Oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides in one-step was conducted by this complex as catalyst using urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP) in mixture of CH2Cl2/CH3OH (1:1) under air at room temperature. The results show that using this system in oxidation of sulfides, sulfoxides are obtained as the main products, together with variable amounts of sulfones (≤13%), depending on the nature of the substrate.

Efficient and convenient oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides with molecular oxygen catalyzed by Mn(OAc)2 in ionic liquid [C12mim][NO3]

A simple, efficient, and eco-friendly procedure for aerobic oxidation of sulfides catalyzed by Mn(OAc)₂/[C₁₂mim][NO₃] has been developed.

Polymeric heterogeneous catalysts of transition-metal oxides: surface characterization, physicomechanical properties, and catalytic activity

We investigate the physicomechanical properties of polymeric heterogeneous catalysts of transition-metal oxides, specifically, the specific surface area, elongation at break, breaking strength, specific electrical resistance, and volume resistivity. Digital microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive analysis are used to study the surfaces of the catalysts. The experimental results show that polymeric heterogeneous catalysts of transition-metal oxides exhibit high stability and can maintain their catalytic activity under extreme reaction conditions for long-term use. The oxidation mechanism of sulfur-containing compounds in the presence of polymeric heterogeneous catalysts of transition-metal oxides is confirmed. Microstructural characterization of the catalysts is performed by using X-ray computed tomography. The activity of various catalysts in the oxidation of sulfur-containing compounds is determined. We demonstrate the potential application of polymeric heterogeneous catalysts of transition-metal oxides in industrial wastewater treatment.

Transition-metal-free highly efficient aerobic oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides under mild conditions

A highly efficient transition-metal-free catalytic system Br₂/NaNO₂/H₂O has been developed for a robust and economic acid-free aerobic oxidation of sulfides. It is noteworthy that the sulfide function reacts under mild conditions without over-oxidation to sulfone. The role of NaNO₂ as an efficient NO equivalent for the activation of molecular oxygen was identified. Under the optimal conditions, a broad range of sulfide substrates were converted into their corresponding sulfoxides in high yields by molecular oxygen. The present catalytic system utilizes cheap and readily available agents as the catalysts, exhibits high selectivity for sulfoxide products and releases only innocuous water as the by-products.

Highly efficient selective oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds catalyzed by ruthenium (III) meso-tetraphenylporphyrin chloride in the presence of molecular oxygen

Efficient selective oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds by molecular oxygen with isobutyraldehyde as oxygen acceptor in the presence of metalloporphyrins has been reported. Ruthenium (III) meso-tetraphenylporphyrin chloride (Ru(TPP)Cl) showed excellent activity and selectivity for oxidation of various alcohols under mild conditions. Moreover, different factors influencing alcohols oxidation, for example, catalyst, solvent, temperature, and oxidant, have been investigated. In large-scale oxidation of benzyl alcohol, the isolated yield of benzaldehyde of 89% was observed.