Mechanistic Studies of the Thermolysis of Tetraneopentyltitanium(IV). 2. Solid State and Ultra-High-Vacuum Studies of the Chemical Vapor Deposition of TiC Films

Homoleptic 1-norbornyl complexes of group 4 and manganese: synthesis, structures, volatility, and thermal stability

Detailed syntheses are reported for the previously reported homoleptic 1-norbornyl complexes [M(norb)4] {M = Ti (1), Zr (3), Hf (4), and Mn (5)}. These compounds were characterized by combustion elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction (for 1 and 3), and SQUID magnetometry (for 5). The reaction by-product [{(norb)3Ti}2(μ-O)] (2) was also spectroscopically and structurally characterized. To assess the potential viability of 1 and 3–5 as precursors for thin film deposition by CVD or ALD, their volatility and thermal stability were evaluated by sublimation, thermogravimetric analysis, and in the case of 4, bulk thermolysis.

A strategy to convert propane to aromatics (BTX) using TiNp4 grafted at the periphery of ZSM-5 by surface organometallic chemistry

The direct conversion of propane into aromatics (BTX) using modified ZSM-5 was achieved with a strategy of "catalysis by design". In contrast to the classical mode of action of classical aromatization catalysts which are purely based on acidity, we have designed the catalyst associating two functions: One function (Ti-hydride) was selected to activate the C-H bond of propane by σ-bond metathesis to further obtain olefin by β-H elimination and the other function (Brønsted acid) being responsible for the oligomerization, cyclization, and aromatization. This bifunctional catalyst was obtained by selectively grafting a bulky organometallic complex of tetrakis(neopentyl)titanium (TiNp4) at the external surface (external silanol ([triple bond, length as m-dash]Si-OH) group) of [H-ZSM-5300] to obtain [Ti/ZSM-5] catalyst 1. This metal was chosen to activate the C-H bond of paraffin at the periphery of the ZSM-5 while maintaining the Brønsted acid properties of the internal [H-ZSM-5] for oligomerization, cyclization, and aromatization. Catalyst 2 [Ti-H/ZSM-5] was obtained after treatment under H2 at 550 °C of freshly prepared catalyst 1 ([Ti/ZSM-5]) and catalyst 1 was thoroughly characterized by ICP analysis, DRIFT, XRD, N2-physisorption, multinuclear solid-state NMR, XPS and HR-TEM analysis including STEM imaging. The conversion of propane to aromatics was studied in a dynamic flow reactor. With the pristine [H-ZSM-5300] catalyst, the conversion of propane is very low. However, with [Ti-H/ZSM-5] catalyst 2 under the same reaction conditions, the conversion of propane remains significant during 60 h of the reaction (ca. 22%). Furthermore, the [Ti-H/ZSM-5] catalyst shows a good and stable selectivity (55%) for aromatics (BTX) of time on stream. With 2, it was found that the Ti remains at the periphery of the [H-ZSM-5] even after reaction time.

Group 5 chemistry supported by β-diketiminate ligands

β-Diketiminate (BDI) ligands are widely used supporting ligands in modern organometallic chemistry and are capable of stabilizing various metal complexes in multiple oxidation states and coordination environments.

Hafnium Oxide and Zirconium Oxide Atomic Layer Deposition: Initial Precursor and Potential Side-Reaction Product Pathways with H/Si(100)-2×1

Hybrid density functional calculations have been carried out using cluster models of the H/Si(100)-2 x 1 surface to investigate the mechanistic details of the initial surface reactions occurring in the atomic layer deposition of hafnium and zirconium oxides (HfO2 and ZrO2). Reaction pathways involving the metal precursors ZrCl4, Zr(CH3)4, HfCl4, and Hf(CH3)4 have been examined. Pathways leading to the formation of a Zr-Si or Hf-Si linkage show a significant sensitivity to the identity of the leaving group, with chloride loss reactions being both kinetically and thermodynamically less favorable than reactions leading to the loss of a methyl group. The energetics of the Zr(CH3)4 and Hf(CH3)4 reactions are similar with an overall exothermicity of 0.3-0.4 eV and a classical barrier height of 1.1-1.2 eV. For the reaction between H2O and the H/Si(100)-2 x 1 surface, the activation energy and overall reaction enthalpy are 1.6 and -0.8 eV, respectively. Due to contamination, trace amounts of H2O may be encountered by metal precursors, leading to the formation of minor species that can lead to unanticipated side-reaction pathways. Such gas-phase reactions between the halogenated and alkylated metal precursors and H2O are exothermic with small or no reaction barriers, allowing for the possibility of metal precursor hydroxylation before the H/Si surface is encountered. Of the contaminant surface reaction pathways, the most kinetically favorable corresponds to the surface -OH deposition. Interestingly, for the hydroxylated metal precursors, a unique reaction pathway resulting in the direct formation of Si-O-Zr and Si-O-Hf linkages has been identified and found to be the most thermodynamically stable pathway available, being exothermic by approximately 1.0 eV.

Dissociation of acetaldehyde on beta-Mo2C to yield ethylidene and oxo surface groups: a possible pathway for active site formation in heterogeneous olefin metathesis

The dissociative adsorption of acetaldehyde on beta-Mo2C was studied using reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy. In contrast to what is observed for all metals previously studied, acetaldehyde undergoes selective carbonyl bond scission on the carbide surface. By comparison to calculated spectra, the surface product is identified as an oxo-ethylidene species. The study thus provides the first extended-range infrared spectrum of a propene metathesis initiator or propagator alkylidene. Aldehydes may be formed in the presence of olefins during the induction period of supported metal oxide olefin metathesis catalysts. Hence, the observed dissociative chemisorption of acetaldehyde suggests a possible answer to the question of how initiator sites are formed in heterogeneous olefin metathesis. This question has never been satisfactorily answered. In the proposed mechanism, aldehydes formed during the induction period subsequently react with the catalyst surface to generate alkylidene sites.

Formation of thermally stable alkylidene layers on a catalytically active surface

Materials containing organic-inorganic interfaces usually display a combination of molecular and solid-state properties, which are of interest for applications ranging from chemical sensing to microelectronics and catalysis. Thiols--organic compounds carrying a SH group--are widely used to anchor organic layers to gold surfaces, because gold is catalytically sufficiently active to replace relatively weak S-H bonds with Au-S bonds, yet too inert to attack C-C and C-H bonds in the organic layer. But although several methods of functionalizing the surfaces of semiconductors, oxides and metals are known, it remains difficult to attach a wide range of more complex organic species. Organic layers could, in principle, be formed on the surfaces of metals that are capable of inserting into strong bonds, but such surfaces catalyse the decomposition of organic layers at temperatures above 400 to 600 K, through progressive C-H and C-C bond breaking. Here we report that cycloketones adsorbed on molybdenum carbide, a material known to catalyse a variety of hydrocarbon conversion reactions, transform into surface-bound alkylidenes stable to above 900 K. We expect that this chemistry can be used to create a wide range of exceptionally stable organic layers on molybdenum carbide.

Ammonolysis of mono(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) titanium(IV) derivatives

Ammonolyses of mono(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) titanium(IV) derivatives [Ti(eta5-C5Me5)X3] (X = NMe2, Me, Cl) have been carried out in solution to give polynuclear nitrido complexes. Reaction of the tris(dimethylamido) derivative [Ti(eta5-C5Me5)(NMe2)3] with excess of ammonia at 80-100 degrees C gives the cubane complex [[Ti(eta5-C5Me5)]4(mu3-N)4] (1). Treatment of the trimethyl derivative [Ti(eta5-C5Me5)Me3] with NH3 at room temperature leads to the trinuclear imido-nitrido complex [[Ti(eta/5-CsMes)(mu-NH)]3(mu3-N)] (2) via the intermediate [[Ti(eta5-C5Me5)Me]2(mu-NH)2] (3). The analogous reaction of [Ti(eta5-C5Me5)Me3] with 2,4,6-trimethylaniline (ArNH2) gives the dinuclear imido complex [[Ti(eta5-C5Me5)Me])2(mu-NAr)2] (4) which reacts with ammonia to afford [[Ti(eta5-C5Me5)(NH2)]2(mu-NAr)2] (5). Complex 2 has been used, by treatments with the tris(dimethylamido) derivatives [Ti(eta5-C5H5-nRn)(NMe2)3], as precursor of the cubane nitrido systems [[Ti4(eta5-C5Me5)3(eta5-C5H5-nRn)](mu3-N)4] [R = Me n = 5 (1), R = H n = 0 (6), R = SiMe3 n = 1 (7), R = Me n = 1 (8)] via dimethylamine elimination. Reaction of [Ti(eta5-C5Me5)Cl3] or [Ti(eta5-C5Me5)(NMe2)Cl2] with excess of ammonia at room temperature gives the dinuclear complex [[Ti2(eta5-C5Me5)2Cl3(NH3)](mu-N)] (9) where an intramolecular hydrogen bonding and a nonlineal nitrido ligand bridge the "Ti(eta5-C5Me5)Cl(NH3)" and "Ti(eta5-C5Me5)Cl2" moieties. The molecular structures of [[Ti(eta5-C5Me5)Me]2 (mu-NAr)2] (4) and [[Ti2(eta5-C5Me5)2Cl3(NH3)](mu-N)] (9) have been determined by X-ray crystallographic studies. Density functional theory calculations also have been conducted on complex 9 to confirm the existence of an intramolecular N-H...Cl hydrogen bond and to evaluate different aspects of its molecular disposition.