New Approach to Synthesis of Tetralin via Naphthalene Hydrogenation in Supercritical Conditions Using Polymer-Stabilized Pt Nanoparticles

Highly Selective MOF-Based Turn-Off Luminescence Detection of Hg2+ Ions in an Aqueous Medium and Its Dual Functional Catalytic Activity toward Aldol Condensation and β-Enamination Reactions

A new organic ligand, 5-(carboxyformamido)isophthalic acid (5-CFIA), was prepared and employed for the synthesis of two compounds [M₃(C₁₀H₄O₇N₁)₂(8H₂O)]·H₂O (M = Cd, Mn). The compounds have three-dimensionally extended structures. Both the compounds were found to be luminescent at room temperature. The luminescence nature was exploited for the detection of Hg²⁺ ions in an aqueous medium with good selectivity. The interactions between Hg²⁺ ions and the compounds quench the luminescence intensity and act as a turn-off sensor. Both the compounds exhibited low limits for the detection of Hg²⁺ ions and in the range mandated by the WHO. The interactions between Hg²⁺ ions and the compound involve the -NH group, which was probed using Raman and IR spectroscopic techniques. These studies provide important pointers toward the mechanism of this turn-off luminescence behavior. The compounds were explored for base-catalyzed aldol condensation and Lewis acid-promoted β-enaminoester formation reactions. The aldol condensation reaction uses the -NH functionality as a base. The studies indicate that the electron-withdrawing group produces products with higher yields. The β-enaminoester reaction uses the Lewis acid centers, and the studies reveal that the electron-withdrawing groups produce lesser yields of the products. The catalytic nature of the reaction and recyclability of the catalysts were also established. The catalytic reactions employ ethanol (aldol condensation) and no solvent (β-enaminoester), which suggests that the reactions are green and environmentally friendly. The Mn compound was observed to be anti-ferromagnetic.

Noble Metal Nanoparticles Stabilized by Hyper-Cross-Linked Polystyrene as Effective Catalysts in Hydrogenation of Arenes

This work is addressing the arenes' hydrogenation-the processes of high importance for petrochemical, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Noble metal (Pd, Pt, Ru) nanoparticles (NPs) stabilized in hyper-cross-linked polystyrene (HPS) were shown to be active and selective catalysts in hydrogenation of a wide range of arenes (monocyclic, condensed, substituted, etc.) in a batch mode. HPS effectively stabilized metal NPs during hydrogenation in different medium (water, organic solvents) and allowed multiple catalyst reuses.

Comparative Study on the Hydrogenation of Naphthalene over Both Al2O3-Supported Pd and NiMo Catalysts against a Novel LDH-Derived Ni-MMO-Supported Mo Catalyst

Naphthalene hydrogenation was studied over a novel Ni-Al-layered double hydroxide-derived Mo-doped mixed metal oxide (Mo-MMO), contrasted against bifunctional NiMo/Al₂O₃, and Pd-doped Al₂O₃ catalysts, the latter of which with Pd loadings of 1, 2, and 5 wt %. Reaction rate constants were derived from a pseudo-first-order kinetic pathway describing a two-step hydrogenation pathway to tetralin (k ₁) and decalin (k ₂). The Mo-MMO catalyst achieved comparable reaction rates to Pd_2%/Al₂O₃ at double concentration. When using Pd_5%/Al₂O₃, tetralin hydrogenation was favored over naphthalene hydrogenation culminating in a k ₂ value of 0.224 compared to a k ₁ value of 0.069. Ni- and Mo-based catalysts produced the most significant cis-decalin production, with Mo-MMO culminating at a cis/trans ratio of 0.62 as well as providing enhanced activity in naphthalene hydrogenation compared to NiMo/Al₂O₃. Consequently, Mo-MMO presents an opportunity to generate more alkyl naphthenes in subsequent hydrodecyclization reactions and therefore a higher cetane number in transport fuels. This is contrasted by a preferential production of trans-decalin observed when using all of the Al₂O₃-supported Pd catalysts, as a result of octalin intermediate orientations on the catalyst surface as a function of the electronic properties of Pd catalysts.