Preparation, Characterization, and Catalytic Performance of Bismuth−Aluminum Binary-Oxide Layers and Clusters on an Al2O3 Surface

Structures and Properties of Zirconia-Supported Ruthenium Oxide Catalysts for the Selective Oxidation of Methanol to Methyl Formate

The effects of RuO(x) structure on the selective oxidation of methanol to methyl formate (MF) at low temperatures were examined on ZrO(2)-supported RuO(x) catalysts with a range of Ru surface densities (0.2-3.8 Ru/nm(2)). Their structure was characterized using complementary methods (X-ray diffraction, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectra, and reduction dynamics). The structure and reactivity of RuO(x) species change markedly with Ru surface density. RuO(x) existed preferentially as RuO(4)(2-) species below 0.4 Ru/nm(2), probably as isolated Zr(RuO(4))(2) interacting with ZrO(2) surfaces. At higher surface densities, highly dispersed RuO(2) domains coexisted with RuO(4)(2-) and ultimately formed small clusters and became the prevalent form of RuO(x) above 1.9 Ru/nm(2). CH(3)OH oxidation rates per Ru atom and per exposed Ru atom (turnover rates) decreased with increasing Ru surface density. This behavior reflects a decrease in intrinsic reactivity as RuO(x) evolved from RuO(4)(2-) to RuO(2), a conclusion confirmed by transient anaerobic reactions of CH(3)OH and by an excellent correlation between reaction rates and the number of RuO(4)(2-) species in RuO(x)/ZrO(2) catalysts. The high intrinsic reactivity of RuO(4)(2-) structures reflects their higher reducibility, which favors the reduction process required for the kinetically relevant C-H bond activation step in redox cycles using lattice oxygen atoms involved in CH(3)OH oxidation catalysis. These more reactive RuO(4)(2-) species and the more exposed ZrO(2) surfaces on samples with low Ru surface density led to high MF selectivities (e.g. approximately 96% at 0.2 Ru/nm(2)). These findings provide guidance for the design of more effective catalysts for the oxidation of alkanes, alkenes, and alcohols by the synthesis of denser Zr(RuO(4))(2) monolayers on ZrO(2) and other high surface area supports.

Toward a General Strategy for the Synthesis of Heterobimetallic Coordination Complexes for Use as Precursors to Metal Oxide Materials: Synthesis, Characterization, and Thermal Decomposition of Bi2(Hsal)6·M(Acac)3 (M = Al, Co, V, Fe, Cr)

Bismuth(III) salicylate, [Bi(Hsal)(3)](n), reacts readily with the trivalent metal beta-diketonate compounds M(acac)(3) (acac = acetylacetonate; M = Al, V, Cr, Fe, Co) to produce trinuclear coordination complexes of the general formula Bi(2)(Hsal)(6).M(acac)(3) (M = Al, V, Cr, Fe, Co) in 60-90% yields. Spectroscopic and single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments indicate that these complexes possess an unusual asymmetric nested structure in both solution and solid state. Upon standing in dichloromethane solution, Bi(2)(Hsal)(6).Co(acac)(3) eliminates Bi(Hsal)(3) to give the 1:1 adduct Bi(Hsal)(3).Co(acac)(3). The 2:1 heterobimetallic molecular compounds undergo facile thermal decomposition on heating in air to 475 degrees C to produce heterometallic oxide materials, which upon annealing for 2 h at 700 degrees C form crystalline oxide materials. The synthetic approach detailed here represents a unique, general approach to the formation of heterobimetallic bismuth-based coordination complexes via the coordination of M(acac)(3) complexes to bismuth(III) salicylate.