Isomerization Rate Constants Research Articles

The unexpected and important role of alcohol stabilizer in thermal cis-trans isomerization of push-pull dyes in chloroform solution

The study demonstrates the influence of ethanol as a stabilizer in chloroform on the thermal cis-trans isomerization kinetics of photochromic compounds based on azobenzene and azopyridine derivatives. The significance of the addition of ethanol as a stabilizer in chloroform-based solutions on the isomerization reaction of the hydroxy- and the 6-hydroxylalkoxy-substituted azo compounds was investigated. The results have revealed that the presence of a polar stabilizer in a solvent can significantly reduce the reaction rate constant of the dark cis-trans isomerization due to the formation of hydrogen bonds at both ends of the azo-chromophore, thereby inhibiting the isomerization. Furthermore, a stabilizer can facilitate the reversion of azo-hydrazone tautomers of azophenols to their azobenzene form, resulting in a decrease in the reaction rate constant. The research presented in this paper can be essential for scientists who study the kinetics of the trans-cis and the cis-trans isomerization reactions of azo-chromophores. The results show that the use of solvents with polar stabilizers should be rather avoided, as their usage without information about stabilizers can lead to different experimental data. The authors should ensure that detailed information about stabilizers used in unstable solvents is included in the experimental section of their works (a detail currently often omitted in the literature).

An innovative method to identify structural change through ion-molecule collision, making use of Time-Of-Flight measurements and SIMION simulations.

Structural change of ions induced by collision with a neutral has been studied in a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer, using Time-Of-Flight measurements and SIMION simulation. The exothermic catalytic isomerization of HOC+ to HCO+ is used to explore the new methodology. Isomerization is catalyzed via a proton transport mechanism through the interplay of a neutral molecule, the catalyst. Four different potential catalysts, Ne, D2, CH4, and C18O, were studied at different collision energies. SIMION simulation of the ion path and collision in the instrument leads to the highlight of a specific signature related to the catalytic isomerization in the time-of-flight spectra. This signature is used to identify the experimental conditions where isomerization takes place. Only C18O, at low collision energies, gives a clear signature of catalytic isomerization, and a quantitative estimate of the catalyzed isomerization cross-section and rate constant is derived. This new methodology is sensitive to clear presence of catalyzed isomerization and can be used in instruments designed for cross-section measurements, provided low collision energy is used and ion bunching is available.

Kinetic study of H-abstraction and preliminary pyrolysis of n-decane in post-injection fuels

The combustion and pyrolysis process of n-decane was investigated via quantum chemical method to enhance the understanding of post-injection fuels. The hydrogen abstraction reactions were the main reactions that initiated combustion and pyrolysis of n-decane via H atoms and CH3/OH/NO2 radicals. The potential energy surface of hydrogen abstraction and preliminary pyrolysis was determined via high precision CBS-QB3 and M06–2X/6–311++G (d,p) methods. RRKM - Master Equation theory had been utilized to calculate the rate constants of isomerization and β-dissociation reactions in the temperature range of 300–2000 K. In this PES, the ε-site was the most advantageous site in contrast with others and the α-site has the highest energy barrier and was the most challenging hydrogen abstraction site. The isomerisation reactions of decyl radicals play a crucial role in the combustion and pyrolysis of n-decane at low temperature, particularly via 1,5-H shift and 2,5-H shift reaction. At high temperatures, the scission of the CC bond becomes the primary mechanism. Additionally, modified information was incorporated into the detailed model of n-decane combustion and pyrolysis. The modified model exhibited good agreement with experimental measurements of the mole fractions of various significant products in Jet-stirred reactor (JSR) experiments. The research provides a foundation for future investigations of n-decane combustion and pyrolysis support.

One-pot conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural under aqueous conditions using acid/base bifunctional mesoporous silica catalyst

One-pot conversion of carbohydrate-derived biomass compounds to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) using an environmentally green solvent such as water is meritorious, yet challenging, which requires the strategic design of catalysts. We prepare an ordered bifunctional organocatalyst (MS-AB) containing 3-aminopropylacetic acid grafted within the silica nanocage that converts glucose-to-HMF, exhibiting the highest HMF yield (60 wt.%/85.7 mol%) in water and under microwave conditions. Moreover, the calculated activation energies (150–170 °C) for glucose isomerization to fructose, vis-à-vis dehydration to HMF were 59.06 and 138.05 kJ mol−1, respectively which can even be comparable with the metal-catalyzed reactions. Further evidence was shown from the rate constant values, indicating fructose dehydration is faster (rate constant: k2: 1.92 x 10−2 to 1.13 x 10−1 min−1) than glucose isomerization (rate constant: k1: 2.5 to 5.3 x 10−3 min−1). Considering the advantages associated with MS-AB, the results might showcase the potential of organocatalyst for sustainable utilization of lignocellulosic biomass to platform chemicals.

Hydrothermal Reactions of Biomass-Derived Platform Molecules: Mechanistic Insights into 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) Formation during Glucose and Fructose Decomposition

The study investigates the primary reaction mechanisms of hydrothermal decomposition of glucose and fructose at 150–225 °C under various initial pH conditions (i.e., with an initial pH of 3–7) to reveal the formation mechanism of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) from glucose and fructose. The results clearly show that dehydration to produce 5-HMF is not a primary reaction during hydrothermal decomposition of both glucose and fructose under noncatalytic conditions, indicating that 5-HMF cannot be directly produced from either glucose or fructose in water (with an initial pH of ∼7). In the presence of formic acid, dehydration to produce 5-HMF becomes a primary reaction during the hydrothermal decomposition of both glucose and fructose. The selectivity of dehydration reaction to produce 5-HMF increases with reducing the initial pH, i.e., up to ∼40% for glucose decomposition at 175 °C and ∼49% for fructose decomposition at 150 °C when the initial pH reduces to 3. Further kinetic analyses show that the rate constants of isomerization and retro-aldol condensation reactions almost remain unchanged under all initial pH conditions, while the rate constants of dehydration reactions to produce 5-HMF and levoglucosan increase almost linearly with the hydrogen ion concentration at the reaction temperature. This leads to increases in the selectivities of dehydration reactions, at the expense of other primary reactions. Our data also clearly indicate that dehydration reactions are acid-catalyzed reactions, while organic acid has almost no effect on isomerization and retro-aldol condensation reactions. Since organic acids can be formed at the early stage of sugar decomposition, this study provides the first experimental evidence in the field to clarify the formation mechanism of 5-HMF during sugar hydrothermal decomposition.

Revealing the heat-induced cis-trans isomerization of unsaturated fatty acids in camellia oil

The regularity of cis-trans isomerization of unsaturated fatty acids in camellia oil under heating was revealed adopting fatty acid profile evolution coupled with reaction kinetics. The temperatures of generating mono-trans linoleic acids (C18:2-9c12t and C18:2-9t12c) and linolelaidic acid (C18:2-9t12t) were at 220 °C and 280 °C respectively, both of which were significantly higher than that of elaidic acid (180 °C). And the total trans fatty acids (TFAs) content was increased with the elevating of heating temperature. Furthermore, the reaction rate constants (k) of cis-trans isomerization were observed according to the rate equations. In accordance with the k, the activation energy (Ea) of the cis-trans isomerization was calculated referring to the Arrhenius equation, the Ea of generating elaidic, mono-trans linoleic and linolelaidic acids reactions were 97.22 kJ/mol, 127.4 kJ/mol and 112.6 kJ/mol, respectively. These results indicated that oleic acid is more prone to be converted into trans isomer than linoleic acid, the mono-trans linoleic acids are the precursors of linolelaidic acid in heat-induced camellia oil. This study provides a reference for the potential inhibition of TFAs formation during camellia oil processing.

Probing Transient Riboswitch Structures via Single Molecule Accessibility Analysis.

Riboswitches are a class of RNA motifs in the untranslated regions of bacterial messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that can adopt different conformations to regulate gene expression. The binding of specific small molecule or ion ligands, or other RNAs, influences the conformation the riboswitch adopts. Single Molecule Kinetic Analysis of RNA Transient Structure (SiM-KARTS) offers an approach for probing this structural isomerization, or conformational switching, at the level of single mRNA molecules. SiM-KARTS utilizes fluorescently labeled, short, sequence-complementary DNA or RNA oligonucleotide probes that transiently access a specific RNA conformation over another. Binding and dissociation to a surface-immobilized target RNA of arbitrary length are monitored by Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM) and quantitatively analyzed, via spike train and burst detection, to elucidate the rate constants of isomerization, revealing mechanistic insights into riboswitching.

Further insights into the core mechanism of H2/CO/NOx reaction system

The core H2/CO/NOx mechanism is important in understanding the mechanism of NOx formation during combustion as it forms the base model in developing kinetic models of larger hydrocarbons/NOx systems. Recently, the Goldsmith group at Brown University performed high-level ab-initio calculations of the chemistry of HONO and HNO2 and proposed that the thermal rate constant of isomerization of HONO to HNO2 is orders of magnitude lower than that used in all previous models. This discrepancy may lead to a deviation in understanding the formation mechanism of NOx. With this in mind, coupling with the latest rate constants obtained by experimental measurements and high-level quantum chemistry calculations, the H2/CO/NOx model was circularly updated and re-verified against multi-type datasets over a wide range of initial conditions and experimental devices. The proposed model (XJTUNO-2021) can accurately reproduce almost all of the fundamental combustion data including 156 shock tube datasets, 87 JSR datasets, 114 flow reactor datasets and six laminar flame speed datasets in the literature from 1959 to 2021. Moreover, this study clarifies the shortcomings of the Zhang mechanism of CO/NOx systems. Finally, the updated model has been used to simulate the formation of NO at practical gas-turbine conditions to give more kinetically information of NO control technologies.

Open-Form Configurational Isomers of a Tricyanofuran-Type Metastable-State Photoacid.

We determine the presence of four open-form configurational isomers for an unsubstituted metastable-state photoacid (mPAH) of the tricyanofuran (TCF) type in solution, at room temperature, via 2D NMR experiments. Electronic structure calculations are carried out to predict the relative stability of the isomers found experimentally and their isomerization barriers. According to the calculated rate constants for isomerization, the molecule can freely interconvert between the open-form isomers, thereby providing a thermal pathway between the isomers that might be better suited to access the cyclized closed-form configuration and those that are not. In establishing the open form isomeric makeup of the TCF mPAH under study, this work establishes the need to consider the four isomers in further studies on the thermal and excited-state isomerization processes and substituent effect thereon.

Studies on kinetics of isomerization of gamma oryzanol at air-water interface

We report the studies on Langmuir monolayer of gamma oryzanol (γ-Or) in trans and cis states and kinetics of photo-isomerization and thermal isomerization of γ-Or at air-water interface. The surface manometry studies show that the monolayer of trans−γ-Or on compression exhibits gas and liquid expanded phases with a small region of gas-liquid expanded coexistence region. The monolayer collapses at a surface pressure of 34 mNm−1. In contrast to this, the cis−γ-Or monolayer on compression exhibits an extended gas-liquid expanded coexistence region between gas and liquid expanded phases before collapsing at a surface pressure of 38 mNm−1. The studies on isomerization of γ-Or in the Langmuir monolayer show that the photo-isomerization process follows first order kinetics and thermal isomerization follows second order kinetics. The rate constants of photo-isomerization and thermal isomerization of γ-Or at air-water interface obtained at different temperatures show Arrhenius temperature dependence. The activation energy for the photo-isomerization was found to be 85.34 kJ/mol and for thermal isomerization it was found to be 51.33 kJ/mol.

Combination Reactions of Propargyl Radical with Hydroxyl Radical and the Isomerization and Dissociation of trans-Propenal.

Ab initio investigation for the ground-electronic potential energy surface (PES) of the CH2CCH + OH combination and the trans-CH2CHCHO isomerization and decomposition has been performed at the UCCSD(T)/CBS(TQ5)//M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ level of theory. Thermal and microcanonical rate constants, as well as branching ratios in the 300-2000 K temperature range have been predicted based on optimized structures and vibrational frequencies of species involved using statistical theoretical VRC-TST and RRKM master equation computations. The calculated results are in good agreement with the prior reported data, particularly as an accurate scaling of the energy barriers was carried out. Based on the view of PES and kinetic-predicted values, the reaction paths leading to C2H2 + CO + H2, CH3CH + CO, C2H4 + CO, C2H3 + HCO, and C3H3O + H are the prevailing product channels for the C3H3 + OH bimolecular reaction under the considered 300-2000 K temperature range. Among those products, CH3CH + CO is the most dominant one in the low-temperature condition; however, C2H2 + CO + H2 becomes the most favorable product in the high-temperature region. Alternatively, the C3H4O dissociation processes leading to C2H2 + CO + H2, C2H3 + HCO, C2H4 + CO, and CH2C + CH2O constitute the major paths, in which, C2H2 + CO + H2 is the most critical one with the ∼62% and ∼59% branching ratios at E = 148 and 182 kcal/mol, respectively. The overall second-order rate constants of the bimolecular reaction C3H3 + OH → products obtained at the pressure 760 Torr (Ar) can be illustrated by the modified Arrhenius expression of k(T) = 1.36 × 10-13T1.26 exp[(-1.12 ± 0.43 kcal mol-1)/RT] and/or k(T) = 3.77 × 1017T-7.58 exp[(-18.82 ± 0.20 kcal mol-1)/RT] cm3 molecule-1 s-1, covering the temperature range of 300-1300 and/or 1300-2000 K, respectively. The total high-pressure limit rate constant for the C3H3 + OH → CH2CCHOH barrierless processes is in good agreement with the k(T) = 8.30 × 10-10 T-0.1 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 literature data. Moreover, microcanonical rate constants for the C3H4O isomerization and dissociation are in excellent accordance with the previously predicted values given by Chin and Lee. The present study supplies a thorough insight into the mechanisms and kinetics of the C3H3 + OH combination as well as the C3H4O multistep isomerization/dissociation pathways.

Z-E isomerization of azobenzene based amphiphilic poly(urethane-urea)s: Influence on the dynamic mechanical properties and the effect of the self-assembly in solution on the isomerization kinetics

Azobenzene containing polymers have been used in the development of materials and devices responsive to light, devices for optical storage information, with shape-changing and shape-memory capacities, surface-relief grating, holograms, etc. Poly(urethane-urea)s (PUU) based on a hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG-PUU), on a hydrophobic polycaprolactone diol (PCL-PUU) polyols, and on an equimolar mixture of them (PEG/PCL-PUU), 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate and 4,4′-diaminoazobenzene (DAAB), as a chain extender, were synthesized by a two-step route. PUU were characterized with respect to their chemical structure, molar masses, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties, and spectroscopic properties. The kinetics of the photo- and thermal-induced isomerization were studied in DMF solutions. The isomerization rate constant was two orders of magnitude higher for DAAB compared with PUU in DMF solution, except for PEG/PCL-PUU, for which the rate constant was half the value observed for DAAB. The amphiphilic nature of the PUU resulted in aggregates in DMF and, therefore, the azo isomerization for PEG-PUU and PCL-PUU occurred in a solid-state-like environment. On the other hand, PEG/PCL-PUU presented unimers and aggregates in DMF and the isomerization of azo groups in free PUU chains was faster. The PUU were semicrystalline and thermo-mechanically stable up 150 °C due to the hydrogen bonding involving urea, urethane and ester groups. The aggregates size in DMF solution, as well as the dynamic mechanical properties of the PUU, were sensitive to photo- and thermo-induced isomerization.

Kinetically unstable 2–isocyanophenol isolated in cryogenic matrices: Vibrational excitation, conformational changes and spontaneous tunneling

Monomers of 2-isocyanophenol were generated in low-temperature solid Ar and N2 matrices by UV-irradiation of benzoxazole and characterized by infrared (IR) spectroscopy. Near–IR narrowband excitation of the first OH-stretching overtone of 2–isocyanophenol isolated in an N2 matrix converted the most stable cis into the higher-energy trans conformer. Interconversions between these conformers also occurred when the sample was vibrationally excited by the full, or filtered, broadband light of the IR spectrometer source, notably, with different isomerization rate constants. A spontaneous trans → cis decay, via H–tunneling, was observed for N2 matrix kept in dark. In an Ar matrix, only the cis conformer was observed.

Branching Ratios and Rate Constants for Decomposition and Isomerization of β-Hydroxyalkoxy Radicals Formed from OH Radical-Initiated Reactions of C6-C13 2-Methyl-1-Alkenes in the Presence of NOx.

A series of C6-C13 2-methyl-1-alkenes were reacted with OH radicals in the presence of NOx in a Teflon environmental chamber, and molar yields of the 2-ketone products were measured using gas chromatography. Yields were corrected for secondary reactions with OH radicals and for gas-wall partitioning of the 2-methyl-1-alkene and 2-ketone, with the latter correction being determined from measurements of gas-wall partitioning of 2-ketone standards. Molar yields of 2-ketones decreased with increasing 2-methyl-1-alkene carbon number from a maximum of 0.82 for C6 to a minimum of 0.34 ± 0.02 for C9-C13, which after normalization for the fraction of reaction that occurred by OH radical addition to the C═C double bond (with the rest occurring by H atom abstraction) were 0.86 and 0.39 ± 0.01. These yields were combined with branching ratios determined previously for site-specific OH radical addition to the C═C double bond and for formation of β-hydroxynitrates to determine branching ratios for decomposition and isomerization of β-hydroxyalkoxy radicals. Branching ratios for decomposition decreased with increasing 2-methyl-1-alkene carbon number from a maximum of 0.97 for C6 to a minimum of 0.49 ± 0.01 for C9-C13, while the corresponding values for isomerization increased from 0.03 to 0.51 ± 0.01. The results were used to estimate absolute rate constants and activation energies for decomposition and isomerization and were also combined with previously measured yields of β-hydroxynitrates, dihydroxynitrates, trihydroxynitrates, and H atom abstraction products to obtain yields of ∼75% for the C9-C13 reaction products, with the remainder likely being mostly dihydroxycarbonyls and trihydroxycarbonyls.

PH-Dependent Multistate System Generated by a Synthetic Furanoflavylium Compound: An Ancestor of the Anthocyanin Multistate of Chemical Species.

The multistate of chemical species generated by 4′-hydroxy-3,2′-furanoflavylium is similar to that of anthocyanins and related compounds. This furanoflavylium multistate system was fully characterized by UV–visible and NMR spectroscopy, allowing determination of the respective equilibrium and rate constants. In contrast to the multistate generated by flavylium cations derived from anthocyanins and related compounds, the furanoflavylium multistate is characterized by much slower hydration and tautomerization (pyran ring opening–closing). In addition, the cis–trans isomerization of the chalcones of this system (2′-hydroxyaurones) is extremely slow when compared with anthocyanins. The observed similar order of magnitude for tautomerization and isomerization rate constants leads to peculiar kinetics from the flavylium cation (pH = 1) to the stable trans-chalcone (higher pH values). The hemiketal appears and disappears during the first stages of the kinetics, which gives the intermediate cis-chalcone (pseudo-equilibrium). This last species disappears in a much slower process, as fully characterized by 1H NMR, to give the final trans-chalcone.

Dominant Role of Entropy in Stabilizing Sugar Isomerization Transition States within Hydrophobic Zeolite Pores

Lewis acid sites in zeolites catalyze aqueous-phase sugar isomerization at higher turnover rates when confined within hydrophobic rather than within hydrophilic micropores; however, relative contributions of competitive water adsorption at active sites and preferential stabilization of isomerization transition states have remained unclear. Here, we employ a suite of experimental and theoretical techniques to elucidate the effects of coadsorbed water on glucose isomerization reaction coordinate free energy landscapes. Transmission IR spectra provide evidence that water forms extended hydrogen-bonding networks within hydrophilic but not hydrophobic micropores of Beta zeolites. Aqueous-phase glucose isomerization turnover rates measured on Ti-Beta zeolites transition from first-order to zero-order dependence on glucose thermodynamic activity, as Lewis acidic Ti sites transition from water-covered to glucose-covered, consistent with intermediates identified from modulation excitation spectroscopy during in situ attenuated total reflectance IR experiments. First-order and zero-order isomerization rate constants are systematically higher (by 3-12×, 368-383 K) when Ti sites are confined within hydrophobic micropores. Apparent activation enthalpies and entropies reveal that glucose and water competitive adsorption at Ti sites depend weakly on confining environment polarity, while Gibbs free energies of hydride-shift isomerization transition states are lower when confined within hydrophobic micropores. DFT calculations suggest that interactions between intraporous water and isomerization transition states increase effective transition state sizes through second-shell solvation spheres, reducing primary solvation sphere flexibility. These findings clarify the effects of hydrophobic pockets on the stability of coadsorbed water and isomerization transition states and suggest design strategies that modify micropore polarity to influence turnover rates in liquid water.

High vibrational overtone excitation‐induced conformational isomerization of glycolic acid in solid argon matrix

AbstractThe high overtone‐induced isomerization of glycolic acid in a low‐temperature argon matrix was investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The Raman spectrum of glycolic acid is presented, and the spectral assignment is supported by vibrational anharmonic calculations. The high overtone excitation of the lowest energy conformer (SSC) at 532 nm induced direct conformational isomerization to higher energy conformers (GAC and AAT). Furthermore, upon excitation at 532 nm GAC and AAT isomerized back to SSC and photo‐induced equilibrium was observed between the conformers. Kinetic model was used to describe the observed isomerization and isomerization rate constants were obtained. No experimental evidence of isomerization between GAC and AAT nor other higher energy conformers were observed.

Slow-Binding Inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Shikimate Kinase by Manzamine Alkaloids.

Tuberculosis represents a significant public health crisis. There is an urgent need for novel molecular scaffolds against this pathogen. We screened a small library of marine-derived compounds against shikimate kinase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( MtSK), a promising target for antitubercular drug development. Six manzamines previously shown to be active against M. tuberculosis were characterized as MtSK inhibitors: manzamine A (1), 8-hydroxymanzamine A (2), manzamine E (3), manzamine F (4), 6-deoxymanzamine X (5), and 6-cyclohexamidomanzamine A (6). All six showed mixed noncompetitive inhibition of MtSK. The lowest KI values were obtained for 6 across all MtSK-substrate complexes. Time-dependent analyses revealed two-step, slow-binding inhibition. The behavior of 1 was typical; initial formation of an enzyme-inhibitor complex (EI) obeyed an apparent KI of ∼30 μM with forward ( k5) and reverse ( k6) rate constants for isomerization to an EI* complex of 0.18 and 0.08 min-1, respectively. In contrast, 6 showed a lower KI for the initial encounter complex (∼1.5 μM), substantially faster isomerization to EI* ( k5 = 0.91 min-1), and slower back conversion of EI* to EI ( k6 = 0.04 min-1). Thus, the overall inhibition constants, KI*, for 1 and 6 were 10 and 0.06 μM, respectively. These findings were consistent with docking predictions of a favorable binding mode and a second, less tightly bound pose for 6 at MtSK. Our results suggest that manzamines, in particular 6, constitute a new scaffold from which drug candidates with novel mechanisms of action could be designed for the treatment of tuberculosis by targeting MtSK.

Isomerization and β-scission reactions of alkanes on bifunctional metal-acid catalysts: Consequences of confinement and diffusional constraints on reactivity and selectivity

Small voids stabilize transition states through van der Waals contacts in solid acid catalysts and lead to higher reactivity as inorganic hosts and organic carbocations at transition states become similar in size and shape. Such voids also impose diffusional hurdles that can strongly influence selectivities. Bifunctional mixtures of Pt/SiO2 with mesoporous or microporous aluminosilicates (Al-MCM-41, FAU, SFH, BEA, MFI) with acid sites of similar strength are used in this study to describe the consequences of confinement and diffusional constraints on isomerization and β-scission turnover rates and selectivities for n-heptane reactants. First-order rate constants (per H+) for n-heptane isomerization (to primary methylhexane products) reflect free energy differences between confined carbenium ions at transition states and their gaseous alkenes precursors; they increase (∼103-fold) as van der Waals contacts between carbocations and voids become more effective. Maximum turnover rates are achieved when their diameters, based on spherical constructs, become similar. Such diameters represent, however, incomplete assessments of fit, because they neglect matters of shape essential for effective van der Waals contacts. These geometric descriptors are replaced here by van der Waals interaction energies (Evdw) determined by statistical sampling of the void space in each framework using representative DFT-derived carbocation structures. These Evdw values are similar for the transition states that mediate primary and secondary isomerization and secondary β-scission reactions within each given void environment, leading to intrinsic selectivities that cannot depend on confinement effects. The marked differences in selectivity among aluminosilicates frameworks reflect instead diffusional enhancements of secondary transformations. Primary methylhexene isomers, which are more reactive and diffuse more slowly than n-heptenes, isomerize to dimethylpentenes as they egress from zeolite crystals before hydrogenating at the extracrystalline Pt function, and dimethylpentenes represent the predominant precursors to β-scission products. These diffusional effects are strongest for small voids, because they impose the most effective confinement and the most severe diffusional hurdles, and among these, on larger acid domains at higher proton densities. Reaction-transport formalisms show that Thiele moduli for these systems accurately describe selectivities with rate constants for β-scission and primary and secondary isomerization events affected similarly by a given framework, consistent with the similar Evdw values for their respective transition states. The effects of intracrystalline density of accessible protons within acid domains, varied systematically as pre-adsorbed NH3 titrants desorbed, on selectivities confirm these mechanistic interpretations. These data show that void structures affect selectivity, but not because of preferential stabilization of some transition states or of acid sites that vary in strength among aluminosilicate framework, as proposed previously to account for such effects. The conceptual and mathematical framework developed and used here for n-heptane isomerization on bifunctional metal-acid catalysts is general; it is also essential for rigorous mechanistic and practical assessments of catalysis on microporous catalysts, for which diffusive and confinement properties are in fact inseparable.

Impact of Amino Acids on the Isomerization of the Aluminum Tridecamer Al13.

The stability of the Keggin polycation ε-Al13 is monitored by 27Al NMR and ferron colorimetric assay upon heating aluminum aqueous solutions containing different amino acids with overall positive, negative, or no charge at pH 4.2. A focus on the effect of the amino acids on the isomerization process from ε- to δ-Al13 is made, compared and discussed as a function of the type of organic additive. Amino acids such as glycine and β-alanine, with only one functional group interacting relatively strongly with aluminum polycations, accelerate isomerization in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect of this class of amino acids is also found increasing with the pKa of their carboxylic acid moiety, from a low impact from proline up to more than a 15-fold increased rate from the stronger binders such as glycine or β-alanine. Amino acids with relatively low C-terminal pKa, but bearing additional potential binding moieties such as free alcohol (hydroxyl group) moiety of serine or the amide of glutamine, speed the isomerization comparatively and even more than glycine or β-alanine, glutamine leading to the fastest rates observed so far. With aspartic and glutamic acids, changes in aluminum speciation are faster and significant even at room temperature but rather related to the reorganization toward slow reacting complexed oligomers than to the Al13 isomerization process. The linear relation between the apparent rate constant of isomerization and the additive concentration points to a first-order process with respect to the additives. Most likely, the dominant process is an accelerated ε-Al13 dissociation, increasing the probability of δ isomer formation.