Polyoxometalate-Supported Copper(I)-Pyrazole Complex: Unusual Stability, Geometrical Isomers, Organic Transformation, and Computation

Post-synthetic Metalation on the Ionic TiO2 Surface to Enhance Metal-CO2 Interaction During Photochemical CO2 Reduction

During the photochemical CO2 reduction reaction, CO2 adsorption on the catalyst's surface is a crucial step where the binding mode of the [metal-CO2] adduct directs the product selectivity and efficiency. Herein, an ionic TiO2 nanostructure stabilized by polyoxometalates (POM), ([POM]x@TiO2), is prepared and the sodium counter ions present on the surface to balance the POMs' charge are replaced with copper(II) ions, (Cux[POM]@TiO2). The microscopic and spectroscopic studies affirm the copper exchange without altering the TiO2 core and weak coordination of copper (II) ions to the POMs' surface. Band structure analysis suggests the photo-harvesting efficiency of the TiO2 core with the conduction band edge higher than the reduction potential of CuII/I and multi-electron CO2 reduction potentials. Photochemical CO2 reduction with Cux[POM]@TiO2 results in 30 μmol gcat. -1 CO (79 %) and 8 μmol gcat -1 of CH4 (21 %). Quasi-in-situ Raman study provides evidence in support of CO2 adsorption on the Cux[POM]@TiO2 surface. 13C and D2O labeling studies affirm the {Cu-[CO2]-} adduct formation. Despite the photo-harvesting ability of Nax[POM]@TiO2 itself, the poor CO2 adsorption ability of sodium ions highlights the crucial role of copper ion CO2 photo-reduction. Characterization of the {M-[η2-CO2]-} species via surface tuning validates the CO2 activation and photochemical reduction pathway proposed earlier.

Impact of POM's coordination mode and Mo-hybrid constituents on the binding, stability, and catalytic properties of hybrid (pre)catalysts

The assembly of MoVIO2 2+ and methoxy-substituted salicylaldehyde nicotinoyl hydrazone ligands afforded two classes of hybrid polyoxometalates (POMs). In the Class I architectures, [MoO2(HL1-3)(D)]2[Mo6O19]·xCH3COCH3 (D = CH3COCH3 or H2O, x = 0 or 2, and L1-3 = ligands bearing the OMe group at position 3, 4 and 5, respectively), the main driving force for self-assembly is the electrostatic interaction between the components. Class II architectures are composed of a POM anion covalently linked to two Mo-complex units through the terminal Ot or bridging μ2-OPOM oxygen atoms, as found in Lindqvist-based hybrids [{MoO2(HL1-3)}2Mo6O19]·xCH3CN (x = 0 or 2) and the asymmetrical β-octamolybdate-based hybrid [{Mo2O4(HL2)(H2L)}{MoO2(HL2)}2Mo8O26]·CH3CN·H2O. Quantum chemical calculations were applied to evaluate the impact of the POM hybrid constituents on the hybrid-type stability, showing that it strongly depends on the ligand substituent position and ancillary ligand nature. Hybrids were tested as catalysts for cyclooctene epoxidation using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP in water or decane) and with or without the addition of acetonitrile (CH3CN) as an organic solvent. The catalytic results provided by the use of TBHP in decane are the best ones and classify all the prepared catalysts as very active, with the conversion of cyclooctene >90%, and high selectivity towards epoxide, >80%. We also examined the influence of the ligand structure, POM's hybrid type, and coordination mode on the Mo-hybrid activity and selectivity.