Base-catalyzed Pathway Research Articles

Sol-Gel controlled dispersion of Nb within TiO2 to obtain water tolerant catalysts with tunable acid-base properties for dihydroxyacetone transformation

Nanostructured Nb doped TiO2 were prepared by a novel Sol-Gel method using new N‐methyldiethanolamine‐modified precursors of Ti (IV) and Nb(V). Co-hydrolysis of Ti(IV) and Nb(V) precursors in suitable ratio resulted in the introduction of atomically dispersed Nb cation, along with the formation of small Nb oxo clusters homogenously dispersed within the TiO2 matrix. Characterizations showed a progressive decrease of the crystallinity as well as an increase in the defects and the BET surface areas of the TiO2 nanoparticles with the Nb doping. Upon Nb doping, gas phase calorimetry of NH3 and CO2 adsorption, evidenced the acidity but also the basicity increase. The aqueous phase dihydroxyacetone conversion increased significantly over Nb/TiO2 as compared to undoped TiO2. However, upon increasing the Nb doping, the base-catalyzed pathway, which forms hexoses from DHA, became the prevailing mechanism at the expense of the usual acid-catalyzed pathway leading to formation of Pyruvaldehyde.

On the mechanism of acceptorless dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles catalyzed by tBuOK: a computational study.

The catalytic acceptorless dehydrogenation (ADH) of saturated N-heterocycles has recently gained considerable attention as a promising strategy for hydrogen release from liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs). Recently, a simple tBuOK base-promoted ADH of N-heterocycles was developed by Yu et al. (Adv. Synth. Catal. 2019, 361, 3958). However, it is still open as to how the tBuOK plays a catalytic role in the ADH process. Herein, our density functional study reveals that the tBuOK catalyzes the ADH of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (THQ) through a quasi-metal-ligand bifunctional catalytic channel or a base-catalyzed pathway with close energy barriers. The hydride transfer in the first dehydrogenation process is determined to be the rate determining step, and the second dehydrogenation can proceed directly from 34DHQ regulated by the tBuOK. In addition, the computational results show that the cooperation of a suitable alkali metal ion with the tBuO- group is so critical that the tBuOLi and the isolated tBuO- are both inferior to tBuOK as a dehydrogenation catalyst.

Production of upgraded biocrude from hydrothermal liquefaction using clays as in situ catalysts

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a thermochemical process that converts biomass into biocrude. HTL suffers from low yields of water-insoluble biocrude with high oxygen contents and low heating values. Inexpensive clay minerals including montmorillonite, dolomite, kaolinite and sand were used to upgrade HTL biocrude as in situ acid-base catalysts. Batch tests were performed using starch with 5 wt% clay minerals at 300 °C for 1 h. Bio-oil was fractionated into water-soluble and water-insoluble parts to explore potential catalytic mechanisms by analyzing the fractional distribution, elemental composition and chemical composition. Higher carbon recoveries in the bio-oil fraction (approaching 60%) occurred with clay-catalyzed HTL. Energy recovery of both bio-oil fractions increased by approximately 22% for all clays. A base-catalyzed pathway inhibits char formation from catalytic HTL, with dolomite approaching a char yield as low as 3%. Chromatographic analysis of heavy and light oils from both fractions showed that dolomite and montmorillonite play a catalytic effect via base and acid pathways on upgrading biocrude. Clay-catalyzed HTL modified the boiling point distributions by producing more 100–300 °C middle temperature distillates. Overall, catalytic HTL with clay minerals enhanced the heating value and energy recovery of bio-oils.

A computational study of the SNAr reaction of 2-ethoxy-3,5-dinitropyridine and 2-methoxy-3,5-dinitropyridine with piperidine

Abstract A computational study of the chemical kinetics and thermodynamics study of the SNAr between 3,5-dinitroethoxypyridine 1a and 3,5-dinitromethoxypyridine 1b with piperidine 2 in the gas phase is reported using hybrid density functional theory method B3PW91 and 6–31G(d,p) basis set. The reaction was modeled via both the catalyzed and base-catalyzed pathways which proceeded with the initial attack of the nucleophile 2 on the substrates 1 to yield the Meisenheimer complex intermediate that is stabilized with hydrogen bonding. Calculations show that the reaction goes via the formation and decomposition of a Meisenheimer complex, which was observed to be stabilized by hydrogen bonding. Along the uncatalyzed pathway, the decomposition of the Meisenheimer complex was the slow step and requires about 28 kcal/mol. This barrier was reduced to about 14.8 kcal/mol with the intervention of the base catalyst, thus making the formation of the Meisenheimer complex rate determining. All reactions were calculated to be exothermic, about −6.5 kcal/mol and −0.6 kcal/mol, respectively, for the reaction of 1a and 1b with 2.

A computational study on the reaction mechanism and energetics of alkyne hydroselenation reactions

The uncatalyzed gas phase study of the addition reaction between selenol and alkyne confirms a concerted pathway for the reaction. Reduced natural charge study substantiates that substituents on reactants that stabilize the charges computed on the transition structure facilitate the reaction. Regio- and stereoselectivity in the hydroselenation reactions under radical and base conditions are also investigated in detail and the results are compared with the experimental and the computed uncatalyzed gas phase reactions. While the radical and base catalyzed pathways are pronounced for its high degree of regio- and stereoselectivity leading to E-anti-Markovnikov product, the uncatalyzed reaction prefers Markovnikov product.

Enhanced Oxidation of Tetracycline by Permanganate via the Alkali-Induced Alteration of the Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital and the Electrostatic Potential

The reaction between tetracycline and alkaline permanganate was investigated by combining experimental and computational methods. The kinetics was initially studied using a stopped-flow technique and was found to be first-order in tetracycline and permanganate. The second-order rate constant was positive linearly dependent on the concentration of hydroxyl ion (0.01–0.10 M), indicating the presence of base catalysis. By construction of the Eyring plots in the range of 293–308 K, a lower activation barrier ((14.89 ± 0.44) kcal mol–1) was obtained at 298 K for the base-catalyzed pathway compared with that ((17.72 ± 1.84) kcal mol–1) for the uncatalyzed pathway. The effect of ionic strength further suggested the existence of a complex with higher charge and reactivity. It is confirmed by the theoretical analysis that the hydroxyl ion could attract the proton of tetracycline toward itself to form a complex-like structure with a highly reactive phenolate-type moiety. The highest occupied molecular orbital of te...

Kinetic and Mechanistic Study of Glucose Isomerization Using Homogeneous Organic Brønsted Base Catalysts in Water

The isomerization of glucose to fructose represents a key intermediate step in the conversion of cellulosic biomass to fuels and renewable platform chemicals, namely, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), and levulinic acid (LA). Although both Lewis acids and Bronsted bases catalyze this reaction, the base-catalyzed pathway received significantly less attention due to its lower selectivity to fructose and the poor yields achieved (<10%). However, we recently demonstrated that homogeneous organic Bronsted bases present a similar performance (∼31% yield) as Sn-containing beta zeolite, a reference catalyst for this reaction. Herein, we report on the first extensive kinetic and mechanistic study on the organic Bronsted base-catalyzed isomerization of glucose to fructose. Specifically, we combine kinetic experiments performed over a broad range of conditions (temperature: 80–120 °C; pH 9.5–11.5; reactant: glucose, fructose) with isotopic studies and in situ 1H NMR spectroscopy. Pat...

Synthesis of Triazole-functionalized Phenolic Resin and its Inherent Flame Retardant Property

A novel triazole-functionalized phenolic resin was developed, and its thermal and flame-retardant properties were investigated. The triazole group was incorporated as a pendant unit on the phenolic resin via copper- mediated click chemistry between propargylated phenolic resin and benzyl azide. The newly-developed triazole-functionalized phenolic resin showed higher thermal stability and char yield, together with a reduced total heat release (THR), than the non-functionalized bare phenolic resin, indicating enhanced flame retardancy for the triazole-functionalized phenolic resin. and superior mechanical and ablative properties. 1,2 Phenolic resins are generally prepared by reactions bet- ween formaldehyde and phenol in the presence of acid or base. When prepared by acid catalysis, they are normally called novolac-type resins. In these resins, the molar ratio of formaldehyde to phenol is less than 1, and substitution occurs mostly at the ortho position of the phenol. In contrast, base-catalyzed pathways produce more cross-linked struc- tures, and are called resole-type phenolic resins, with sub- stitutions at both ortho- and para-positions. Phenolic resins with improved thermal and pyrolysis characteristics are desirable for producing composites for thermo-structural applications. 3,4 Although conventional phenolic resins are already considered to be temperature- resistant polymers and are currently in use for the above- mentioned applications, some of the properties of phenolic resins need further improvement for meeting the ever- increasing performance requirements. With sufficient heat and oxygen, most organic polymers will burn. Fundamentally, four processes are involved in the polymer combustion cycle: heating, decomposition, ignition, and combustion. In order to increase its flame resistance, the polymer system should function to interrupt this cycle. 5 A

Selective Base-Catalyzed Isomerization of Glucose to Fructose

Fructose is a key intermediate in the conversion of cellulosic biomass to biofuels and renewable platform chemicals. Biomass-derived glucose can be isomerized to fructose using either Lewis acid or Bronsted base catalysts. Lewis acids are typically preferred as alkaline conditions promote a large number of side reactions. It is widely admitted that only low fructose yields, below 10%, are achievable with inorganic bases. Here, fructose was synthesized with 32% yield using commercially available organic amines. Glucose conversion and fructose selectivity were comparable to Lewis acids, which opens new perspectives for the base-catalyzed pathway.

Theoretical predictions of isotope effects versus their experimental values for an example of uncatalyzed hydrolysis of atrazine.

Kinetic isotope effects are one of the most powerful experimental techniques for establishing the nature of a chemical process. However their interpretation very often seeks support from electronic structure calculations in order to get detailed information regarding the transition state which is not experimentally available. For an example of atrazine hydrolysis we have shown how the match between experimentally and theoretically determined magnitudes of carbon, nitrogen and chlorine kinetic isotope effects can be used to discuss the mechanism under different reaction conditions. Two different density functionals combined with the explicit presence of solvent molecules and a continuum solvation model revealed that although the reaction proceeds via the same concerted mechanism regardless of the reaction conditions the transition state structure for an acid and base-catalyzed pathway is different.

Surface [4 + 2] Cycloaddition Reaction of Thymine on Si(111)7×7 Observed by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

The early stage of thymine (Thy) adsorption on Si(111)7×7 surface is studied with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT)-based computational method. Bright protrusions corresponding to the adsorbed thymine molecules are observed in both empty-state and filled-state STM images. These bright protrusions in the empty-state images exhibit three different degrees [lower (L), medium (M), and higher (H)] of intensities. The L and M protrusions are found on the adatom–restatom pairs in the 7 × 7 unit cell, indicating bidentate configurations for Thy adsorption. A free Thy molecule has been found to interact with the Si surface by a two-step process: Thy first undergoes keto–enol tautomerization to form the more stable dienol tautomer, which then binds to the Si adatom–restatom pair via the [4 + 2] cycloaddition reaction, leading to two different adproducts. Our DFT/B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) calculations show three plausible cycloaddition products, with the 1,4-cyclohexadiene adproduct being more stable than 3,6- and 2,5-cyclohexadienes. Our calculations also suggest the viability of formation of a Thy molecule hydrogen-bonded with the bidentate Thy adproducts already on the surface. Statistical analysis for three different exposures of Thy on the 7 × 7 surface reveals that the L protrusion has the highest relative surface concentration (80%), with the M (16%) and H features (4%) being significantly less popular. These results lead us to attribute the L and M protrusions to the 1,4- and the 3,6-cycloaddition products, respectively, with the least popular H protrusion assigned to a Thy molecule hydrogen-bonded to the bidentate Thy, all attached to an adatom–restatom pair. The observation of [4 + 2] cycloaddition products on the Si surface confirms the formation of precursor dienol Thy tautomer. This surface-mediated two-step reaction pathway for Thy is unique for surfaces, in contrast to keto–enol tautomerization that is mainly observed in the solution phase either by acid- or base-catalyzed pathways. Our STM study coupled with our separate XPS work have demonstrated that this type of tautomerization can also be observed on Si surfaces, and this can initiate the subsequent cycloaddition reactions of Thy molecule with the surface.

Kinetic and equilibrium studies of σ-adduct formation and nucleophilic substitution in the reactions of 2-chloro-3,5-dinitropyridine and 2-ethoxy-3,5-dinitropyridine with p-substituted anilines in DMSO

Rate and equilibrium results for the reactions of 2-chloro-3,5-dinitropyridine and 2-ethoxy-3,5-dinitropyridine with a series of p-substituted anilines in the presence of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) were studied in DMSO. The reactions yielded 2-anilino-3,5-dinitropyridine derivatives, and no accumulation of intermediates could be detected spectrophotometrically. The rates were compatible with a two-step mechanism involving initial nucleophilic attack followed by either base-catalysed or uncatalysed conversion to the product. The base-catalysed pathway was likely to involve rate-limiting proton transfer from the zwitterionic intermediate to the base to yield the anionic σ-adduct. Plots of log K 1 k DABCO against pK a values gave good straight lines at 25 °C, with slopes of 0.42 for 2-chloro- and 0.45 for 2-ethoxy-3,5-dinitropyridine. The results were compared with those for the reactions of 2-phenoxy-3,5-dinitropyridine with substituted anilines.

Kinetic Evidence for the Coexistence of Zwitterionic (T±), Neutral (T0) and Anionic (T−) Intermediates during Rearrangement ofS-(2-Oxotetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-N-(4-methoxyphenyl)isothiuronium Bromide to 5-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-2-(4-methoxyphenylimino)-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one

The kinetics and mechanism of rearrangement of S-(2-oxotetrahydrofuran-3-yl)-N-(4-methoxyphenyl)isothiuronium bromide (1) into 5-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-[(4-methoxyphenyl)imino]-1,3-thiazolidin-4-one have been studied under pseudo-first-order reaction conditions in aqueous buffer solutions and in diluted HCl at 25 degrees C. Multiple breaks in the pH profile establish the formation of three different kinetically detectable intermediates T(+/-), T(0), and T(-). Treatment of 1 (pK(a) = 6.7) with base produces reactive isothiourea, which undergoes cyclization to give T(+/-) (rate limiting step at pH < 0.5). Intermediate T(+/-) then undergoes either general acid-catalyzed, concerted (alpha = -0.47) breakdown to 2 (rls at pH 2-3) or a water-mediated proton switch to T(0) which is followed by its general acid-catalyzed breakdown (pH 3-6). The last reaction pathway involves the formation of T(-) either from T(+/-) or from T(0) (pH > 6). The first possibility seems to be more likely because it is in accordance with kinetics observed in basic amine buffers, where the nonlinear increase of the k(obs) with the c(Buffer) changes to a linear increase as a general base-catalyzed pathway is introduced. Coexistence of all three kinetically detectable intermediates is very rare and is possibly due to relatively enhanced stability of these intermediates necessitating participation of an acid for progression to products.

Mononuclear rearrangements of heterocycles in water/β-CD: information on the real site of reaction from structural modifications of substrates and from proton concentration dependence of the reactivity

The effect of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on the reactivity in the base-catalyzed pathway for the rearrangement in water of some ( Z)-hydrazones of 3-benzoyl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles ( 1b– f) into the relevant triazoles ( 2b– f) was investigated, finding different behavior as a function of the proton concentration. ESIMS and 1H NMR data evidence the formation of host– guest complexes. The whole of the experimental and calculated (MM2) data enabled us to draw some intriguing conclusions concerning the influence of the structures of the substrates and the nature of the formed host– guest complexes on the real site of the reaction.

The reduction of ribonucleotides catalyzed by the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase

This work is devoted to the study of the radical catalytic pathway for the ribonucleotide reduction process assisted by ribonucleotide reductase. The present study is directed toward the investigation of one of the most controversial steps in the reduction pathway – the elimination of the 2′ hydroxyl group from the ribonucleotide. Several groups have made different proposals for this step, which all fit available experimental data; however, so far, it has not been possible to demonstrate clearly which is the correct pathway for the elimination. Here, we resort to high-level quantum mechanical calculations to analyze the energetics of the proposed mechanisms, as well as to propose alternative pathways, and evaluate their feasibility, according to the observed kinetics of the enzyme and other existing experimental data. Our study shows that the elimination occurs via two different simultaneous acid-/base-catalyzed pathways, depending on the protonation state of one key active site amino acid, Glu441.

Steric and electronic effects on the mechanism of nucleophilic substitution (SNAr) reactions of some phenyl 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl ethers with aniline and N-methylaniline in acetonitrile and in dimethyl sulfoxide

Rate data are reported for the reactions of a series of 3′- and 4′-substituted phenyl 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl ethers, 4, with aniline in acetonitrile, leading to 2,4,6-trinitrodiphenylamine. The main reaction flux occurs through a base catalysed pathway involving formation of a zwitterionic intermediate, equilibrium constant K1, and rate-limiting proton transfer to base, rate constant kAn. The effects of ring substituents on values of rate and equilibrium constants are discussed. In contrast the corresponding reactions in DMSO involve both uncatalysed and base catalysed pathways. Reactions of 4 with N-methylaniline are extremely slow, but values of rate constants for reaction of 4-nitrophenyl 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl ether were measured using 1H NMR spectroscopy. The value of the parameter K1kAn is lowered by a factor of 105 for N-methylaniline relative to aniline in both acetonitrile and in DMSO. This reduction is attributed to increased steric hindrance both in formation of the intermediate and to proton transfer.

Near-Critical Water: A Benign Medium for Catalytic Reactions

Environmentally benign near-critical water offers substantial advantages over traditional organic solvents. In this work we use the hydrolyses of several substituted benzoate esters and a series of substituted anisoles as probes to elucidate the activity of the two ionic species in near-critical water. Each of these hydrolyses can run via both acid- and base-catalyzed pathways, as well as an SN2 pathway. An analysis of Hammett plots suggests that the benzoate esters hydrolyze autocatalytically, following an acid-catalyzed mechanism, whereas the anisoles are hydrolyzed via the SN2 mechanistic pathway. This work suggests that near-critical water offers significant potential, both as a benign solvent and as a reaction medium that does not require neutralization with acid or base after the desired reaction is complete.

Changes in the relative contribution of specific and general base catalysis in cationic micelles. The cyclization of substituted ethyl hydantoates.

The rate-surfactant profiles for the HO(-)- and AcO(-)-catalyzed ring closure of two ethyl hydantoates, E2 and E3, to hydantoins with three cetyltrimethylammonium salts (CTAX, X = Br(-), Cl(-), or AcO(-)) are measured in 0.02 and 0.2 M acetate buffers 50% base with starting pH 4.65. Marked accelerations associated with large pH increases are found in 0.02 M buffered CTAOAc. Smaller accelerations and smaller pH changes are observed in 0.2 M buffered CTAOAc and CTACl. From these profiles, the micellar rate constants for the specific base- and general base-catalyzed reactions, and, respectively, of E2 and E3 are obtained separately. The resulting values of k(2,m)/k(w), E2/E3 rate constant ratios, and kinetic solvent isotope effects, KSIEs, are consistent with a strong predominance of the HO(-) reaction in the dilute buffer, while in the more concentrated buffer, specific and general catalysis compete for the two substrates. This result is in sharp contrast with that observed in water in which the reaction of E2 is almost exclusively specifically catalyzed. The increase in the general base-catalyzed pathway for E2 is attributed not to an increase in the rate constant for this pathway in micelles but to a smaller decrease than that for the specific catalysis (k(2,m)/k(w) = 0.2 and 0.4 for the specific and general catalysis, respectively). The different responses of the rate constants to the micellar media are interpreted as a larger effect of the interfacial polarity on the specific than on the general catalysis. The apparent contradiction between the rate constant decreases and the marked accelerations in micellar media is discussed in terms of pH changes, i.e., [HO(-)] changes, and of acetate inclusion via ion exchanges at micellar interfaces.

Acyloxymethyl as a drug protecting group. Part 5.1 Kinetics and mechanism of the hydrolysis of tertiary N-acyloxymethylsulfonamides

Tertiary acyloxymethylsulfonamides undergo hydrolysis via pH-independent and acid- and base-catalysed processes. Reactions are also buffer catalysed for buffer species with pKa values > ca. 10.5. For the pH-independent pathway, hydrolysis takes place via formation of an N-sulfonyl iminium ion. There is no general-base or nucleophilic catalysis in this region. The mechanism of the acid-catalysed process involves pre-equilibrium protonation of the substrate followed by iminium ion formation. General-acid catalysis is not observed. The base-catalysed pathway involves the normal BAc2 mechanism of ester hydrolysis. The buffer-catalysed reaction gives rise to a curved Brønsted plot, with β values of 1.6 and 0.25 for nucleophiles with pKa values <12.5 and >13, respectively. This is indicative of nucleophilic catalysis associated with a change in rate-limiting step from formation of the tetrahedral intermediate for buffer species with pKa > 13 to decomposition of the tetrahedral intermediate for buffer species with pKa < 12.5.

Kinetic studies of bold σ -adduct formation and nucleophilic substitution in the reactions of ethyl 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl ether, some phenyl 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl ethers, and phenyl 2,4-dinitronaphthyl ether with aniline in dimethyl sulfoxide

The reaction of ethyl 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl ether with aniline in dimethyl sulfoxide containing Dabco occurs in two stages. The first gives 5, the σ -adduct intermediate on the substitution pathway, which has been identified spectroscopically. The second yields 2,4,6-trinitrodiphenylamine, the substitution product. Kinetic studies show that proton transfer is rate limiting both in the formation of the intermediate and in its subsequent acid-catalysed decomposition. Phenoxide is a considerably better leaving group than ethoxide and the substitution reactions of phenyl 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl ethers and phenyl 2,4-dinitronaphthyl ether with aniline in DMSO occur without the accumulation of intermediates. The kinetics indicate both uncatalysed and base-catalysed pathways. The kinetic and equilibrium data for reaction of the ethyl and phenyl ethers are compared with data for σ -adduct formation from 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene and aniline.Key words: nucleophilic substitution, proton transfer, base catalysis, σ -adducts