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At least 181 records · Page 10

Simple but tricky: Investigations of terephthalic acid purity obtained from mixed PET waste

In this study, we report for the first time, the basic depolymerization of mixed waste-polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by hydrolysis and subsequent terephthalic acid monomer recovery at high purity using benign reaction conditions. Several conditions were tested for depolymerization such as PET chips size, concentration of aqueous sodium hydroxide (20 or 30%), organic co-solvent (ethylene glycol or ethanol), temperature at which the reaction was run and duration of the heating. More importantly, several batches of PET were utilized as starting materials including a commercial PET, chopped PET obtained from clean bottles whose caps and labels were removed and the purity of the product from each condition was evaluated via nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR and 13CNMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and powder Xray diffraction (XRD). Unsurprisingly, the conversion of PET is dependent on the particle size varying from 100% conversion for fine powder to 73% conversion for (300 µm, mesh 6 – 20 or mesh 14-20). Ethanol appears to be more efficient as a co-solvent than ethylene glycol, with higher PET depolymerization conversions (94% versus 75-80%), shorter reaction times (2h versus 6h) and lower temperatures (80 °C versus 110 °C). The terephthalic acid (TPA) recovered appeared to have only subtle differences among the batches, most notably a pink color when the reaction was run in ethanol/base. The DSC of the compounds produced in ethylene glycol water appear to display a melting point (280-288 °C) while the samples prepared in ethanol as well as a commercial sample did not. Overall, the purity of the various TPA batches is comparable, and similar to commercial TPA, demonstrating the utility of the method to depolymerize realistic waste streams. The method is simple, demonstrated on multigram scale (15-30g) and allows for the complete removal of waste other than PET unaffected by alkaline conditions.

Cosimbescu, Lelia↗

New Mechanistic and Reaction Pathway Insights for Oxidative Coupling of Methane (OCM) over Supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 Catalysts

Abstract The complex structure of the catalytic active phase, and surface‐gas reaction networks have hindered understanding of the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction mechanism by supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts. The present study demonstrates, with the aid of in situ Raman spectroscopy and chemical probe (H 2 ‐TPR, TAP and steady‐state kinetics) experiments, that the long speculated crystalline Na 2 WO 4 active phase is unstable and melts under OCM reaction conditions, partially transforming to thermally stable surface Na‐WO x sites. Kinetic analysis via temporal analysis of products (TAP) and steady‐state OCM reaction studies demonstrate that ( i ) surface Na‐WO x sites are responsible for selectively activating CH 4 to C 2 H x and over‐oxidizing CH y to CO and ( ii ) molten Na 2 WO 4 phase is mainly responsible for over‐oxidation of CH 4 to CO 2 and also assists in oxidative dehydrogenation of C 2 H 6 to C 2 H 4 . These new insights reveal the nature of catalytic active sites and resolve the OCM reaction mechanism over supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts.

Sourav, Sagar↗

New Mechanistic and Reaction Pathway Insights for Oxidative Coupling of Methane (OCM) over Supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 Catalysts

Abstract The complex structure of the catalytic active phase, and surface‐gas reaction networks have hindered understanding of the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction mechanism by supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts. The present study demonstrates, with the aid of in situ Raman spectroscopy and chemical probe (H 2 ‐TPR, TAP and steady‐state kinetics) experiments, that the long speculated crystalline Na 2 WO 4 active phase is unstable and melts under OCM reaction conditions, partially transforming to thermally stable surface Na‐WO x sites. Kinetic analysis via temporal analysis of products (TAP) and steady‐state OCM reaction studies demonstrate that ( i ) surface Na‐WO x sites are responsible for selectively activating CH 4 to C 2 H x and over‐oxidizing CH y to CO and ( ii ) molten Na 2 WO 4 phase is mainly responsible for over‐oxidation of CH 4 to CO 2 and also assists in oxidative dehydrogenation of C 2 H 6 to C 2 H 4 . These new insights reveal the nature of catalytic active sites and resolve the OCM reaction mechanism over supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts.

Sourav, Sagar↗

How Noninnocent Spectator Species Improve the Oxygen Reduction Activity of Single-Atom Catalysts: Microkinetic Models from First-Principles Calculations

Graphene-based single-atom catalysts are promising alternatives to platinum-based catalysts for fuel cell applications. Different transition metals have been screened using electronic structure methods by estimating onset potentials from the most endergonic elementary reaction step. Here, we calculate onset potentials for the oxygen reduction reaction on metal atoms embedded in N-substituted graphene di-vacancies by virtue of first-principles-informed microkinetic analysis. We find that for more oxophilic metals (Cr, Fe, Mn, and Ru), purely thermodynamic models systematically underestimate onset potentials. Furthermore, the oxophilic metals (Cr, Fe, Mn, and Ru) are oxidized under reaction conditions, leading to an increase in activity compared to their reduced state. Importantly, coadsorbed O m H n species actively participate in the reaction, which requires a dynamic treatment of spectator species. These findings highlight the limitations of thermodynamic analyses for electrocatalytic processes, which commonly assume the same oxidation state for each metal, and show that deviations between computational and experimental onset potentials cannot be solely attributed to the shortcomings of the electronic structure methods.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Surface Charge Predicts the Presence of Cation Effects in Electrocatalysis

The identity of electrolyte cations has an important influence on the rates of many electrocatalytic reactions, but these effects are not always observed. Recently, we found that the surface charge of the catalyst, quantified by the potential of zero total charge (PZTC), is a useful heuristic for predicting when cation effects will be observed for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Here, we demonstrate that this descriptor allows us to rationalize the observation or absence of cation effects across a range of conditions, reactions (the hydrogen evolution reaction, the ORR, methanol oxidation, ethylene glycol oxidation, glycerol oxidation, and glucose reduction) and metal surfaces (Pt, Pd, Ag, and Au). These results suggest that when the reaction’s operating potential is negative of the metal’s PZTC, electrolyte cations accumulate at the catalyst surface and influence reaction rates. As a result, when reactions occur positive of the PZTC, cation effects are not observed.

Cations↗

The reaction of a titanium alloy with hydrogen gas at low temperatures.

An investigation of the effect of temperature on the surface hydriding reaction of Ti-5Al-2.5Sn alloy exposed to hydrogen at 250 psig was made. The temperature range studied extended from 160 to -160 F. Reaction conditions were controlled so as to expose a vacuum-cleaned, oxide-free alloy surface to an ultra-pure hydrogen atmosphere. Reaction times up to 1458 hr were studied. The hydriding reaction was extremely sensitive to experimental variables and the reproducibility of reaction behavior was poor. However, it was demonstrated that the reaction proceeded quite rapidly at 160 F; as much as 1 mil surface hydriding was observed after exposure for 162 hr. The amount of hydriding was observed to decrease with decreasing temperature at 75, 36, and -76 F. No surface hydriding was detected either by vacuum fusion analysis or by metallographic examination after exposure for 1458 hr at -110 or -160 F.

Williams, D. N.↗

Synthesis and Evaluation of Cu@ZnO Core@Shell Nanowires for Use in the Carbon Dioxide Thermal Reduction Reaction

Copper-based core@shell nanomaterials are of interest for the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon dioxide toward value-added products. In this context, we have developed a facile, microwave-based procedure for the reliable and reproducible synthesis of Cu@ZnO core@shell nanowires. A systematic assessment of the effect of rationally varying various reaction conditions on this protocol was completed in order to better evaluate the growth process of these core–shell motifs. We determined that among different reaction parameters, it was the critical role of reaction time which enabled the quantitatively reliable growth of external shells with tunable thicknesses of up to 20 nm. As a demonstration of the material’s practical viability, catalytic testing was subsequently performed for the reverse water–gas shift reaction (CO 2 + H 2 → CO + H 2 O), with the evolution of the process followed with in situ X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy in order to probe structural changes and gauge stability. These tests found the catalysts to be effective at converting CO 2 to CO, with notable stability detected in the shell layer and no observed alloying between copper and zinc. Furthermore, our studies support the idea that the Cu–ZnO and CuO x –ZnO interfaces are essential for the effective activation of CO 2 and H 2 .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Understanding Selectivity in CO2 Hydrogenation to Methanol for MoP Nanoparticle Catalysts Using In Situ Techniques

Molybdenum phosphide (MoP) catalyzes the hydrogenation of CO, CO2, and their mixtures to methanol, and it is investigated as a high-activity catalyst that overcomes deactivation issues (e.g., formate poisoning) faced by conventional transition metal catalysts. MoP as a new catalyst for hydrogenating CO2 to methanol is particularly appealing for the use of CO2 as chemical feedstock. Herein, we use a colloidal synthesis technique that connects the presence of MoP to the formation of methanol from CO2, regardless of the support being used. By conducting a systematic support study, we see that zirconia (ZrO2) has the striking ability to shift the selectivity towards methanol by increasing the rate of methanol conversion by two orders of magnitude compared to other supports, at a CO2 conversion of 1.4% and methanol selectivity of 55.4%. In situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) and in situ X-ray Diffraction (XRD) indicate that under reaction conditions the catalyst is pure MoP in a partially crystalline phase. Results from Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy coupled with Temperature Programmed Surface Reaction (DRIFTS-TPSR) point towards a highly reactive monodentate formate intermediate stabilized by the strong interaction of MoP and ZrO2. This study definitively shows that the presence of a MoP phase leads to methanol formation from CO2, regardless of support and that the formate intermediate on MoP governs methanol formation rate.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Product distribution, kinetics, and aerosol formation from the OH oxidation of dimethyl sulfide under different RO 2 regimes

Abstract. The atmospheric oxidation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) represents a major natural source of atmospheric sulfate aerosols. However, there remain large uncertainties in our understanding of the underlying chemistry that governs the product distribution and sulfate yield from DMS oxidation. Here, chamber experiments were conducted to simulate gas-phase OH-initiated oxidation of DMS under a range of reaction conditions. Most importantly, the bimolecular lifetime (τbi) of the peroxy radical CH3SCH2OO was varied over several orders of magnitude, enabling the examination of the role of peroxy radical isomerization reactions on product formation. An array of analytical instruments was used to measure nearly all sulfur-containing species in the reaction mixture, and results were compared with a near-explicit chemical mechanism. When relative humidity was low, “sulfur closure” was achieved under both high-NO (τbi<0.1 s) and low-NO (τbi>10 s) conditions, though product distributions were substantially different in the two cases. Under high-NO conditions, approximately half the product sulfur was in the particle phase, as methane sulfonic acid (MSA) and sulfate, with most of the remainder as SO2 (which in the atmosphere would eventually oxidize to sulfate or be lost to deposition). Under low-NO conditions, hydroperoxymethyl thioformate (HPMTF, HOOCH2SCHO), formed from CH3SCH2OO isomerization, dominates the sulfur budget over the course of the experiment, suppressing or delaying the formation of SO2 and particulate matter. The isomerization rate constant of CH3SCH2OO at 295 K is found to be 0.13±0.03 s−1, in broad agreement with other recent laboratory measurements. The rate constants for the OH oxidation of key first-generation oxidation products (HPMTF and methyl thioformate, MTF) were also determined (kOH+HPMTF=2.1×10-11 cm3 molec.−1 s−1, kOH+MTF=1.35×10-11 cm3 molec.−1 s−1). Product measurements agree reasonably well with mechanistic predictions in terms of total sulfur distribution and concentrations of most individual species, though the mechanism overpredicts sulfate and underpredicts MSA under high-NO conditions. Lastly, results from high-relative-humidity conditions suggest efficient heterogenous loss of at least some gas-phase products.

Ye, Qing (ORCID:0000000337978988)↗

Medium controlled aggregative growth as a key step in mesoporous silica nanoparticle formation

Near monodisperse mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) represent a promising and rapidly developing type of mesoporous silica materials; however, the vast data on their synthesis remains unorganized and ill-understood. We systematically studied the formation of MSN under basic and neutral conditions using various temperatures, CTAB concentrations, hydrolyzing agents (triethanolamine, ammonia, phosphate buffers), and media with different colloidal stabilization properties (with ethanol as a cosolvent and monovalent salts). In the typical conditions for the preparation of stable MSN colloids, the particle size was controlled by colloidal stabilization by the medium (solvent type, ionic strength, and surfactant concentration) in agreement with the “aggregative growth” mechanism, rather than by solely the hydrolysis and condensation rates conventionally used for data interpretation in the classical nucleation theory. Medium properties (pH, ion types and concentration, polarity) also defined the efficiency of silica-surfactant cooperative self-assembly, which directly affected the porosity, mesopore size and pore wall thickness. Interestingly, this traditional silica-surfactant route showed a limited effect on the particle size, emphasizing the dominating role of colloidal stabilization in the studied reaction conditions. In situ pH measurements showed that every reaction medium has unique pH evolution profiles depending on the buffer capacity, hydrolysis and condensation rates. Reaction systems that fail to maintain the working pH can lead to non-porous products or undesired particle morphology and size distribution. The established particle formation mechanism allowed us to formulate comprehensive guidelines for preparing relatively concentrated colloids of near monodisperse (PDI 5–15%) mesoporous 30–700 nm silica spheres with variable porosity and mesopore size. Here, these findings will be particularly useful in designing new mesoporous silica-containing materials for biomedical applications.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

In Situ Neutron Scattering Study of the Structure Dynamics of the Ru/Ca 2 N:e – Catalyst in Ammonia Synthesis

NH 3 synthesis is one of the most critical industrial processes. Compared to commercial iron catalysts, Ru catalysts show high intrinsic activity in this reaction but suffer from hydrogen poisoning. By loading Ru onto supports such as electrides and hydrides, the hydrogen poisoning problem can be significantly alleviated. However, relevant studies on the structural dynamics of the Ru/electride catalysts under reaction conditions are very scarce. Taking advantage of the high sensitivity to hydrogen species, it is possible to obtain insights into the structural changes during the reaction using in situ neutron techniques. In this study, we have investigated the structural evolution of the Ru/Ca 2 N:e – catalyst during the ammonia synthesis reaction by in situ neutron scattering (inelastic neutron scattering, INS) technique. In situ INS experiments suggest that Ca 2 N:e – is likely converted to the Ca 2 NH phase during the reaction. Unlike the previously known structure where H and N atoms are intermixed, the formed Ca 2 NH exhibits a segregated structure where the H and N atoms are located in different layers separated by the Ca layer. In conclusion, density functional theory calculations of the reaction energetics reveal that there are minor changes in the barriers and thermodynamics of the first N hydrogenation step between the two phases (Ca 2 NH phase with segregated H/N layers and intermixed Ca 2 NH phase), suggesting the impact of the phases on the reaction kinetics to be relatively minimal.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Role of Silica Support in Phosphoric Acid Catalyzed Production of p -Xylene from 2,5-Dimethylfuran and Ethylene

p-Xylene is a commodity chemical of industrial importance for terephthalic acid production, for which renewable sourcing from naturally abundant lignocellulosic biomass is highly desired. Previous work demonstrated that phosphoric acid stabilized on siliceous zeolite supports (e.g., P-BEA, P-SPP) exhibits high selectivity toward p-xylene (>97%) from 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) and ethylene. However, the effect of the support and the contribution of heterogeneous versus homogeneous phosphoric acid on the observed catalytic behavior in the solvated reaction system have not been addressed. Here, we determine the phosphoric acid catalytic activity for DMF conversion and its selectivity to p-xylene when it is supported on a silica support as well as in the absence of a support. Specifically, phosphoric acid catalysis was studied in three different scenarios: (1) phosphoric acid was added in the liquid reaction mixture in the absence of any solid support, (2) phosphoric acid was added in the liquid reaction mixture along with inert silica support including siliceous zeolite (i.e., allowing for phosphoric acid–support assembly to proceed in the reaction mixture), and (3) phosphoric acid was first impregnated on the siliceous zeolite support and then the preassembled supported phosphoric acid catalyst was added in the liquid reaction mixture. We found that the reaction rate and selectivity to p-xylene are different in the above scenarios reflecting the effect of the solid support on the catalytic performance of phosphoric acid. In scenario 1, a low concentration of phosphoric acid (1.7 mM) in the absence of any solid support exhibited high selectivity to p-xylene (80% selectivity to p-xylene at 60% conversion of DMF), which decreased with increasing acid concentration. The selectivity to p-xylene and activity of phosphoric acid significantly increased by adding a silica support into the reaction system (scenario 2). Furthermore, this improvement was attributed to phosphoric acid partial association with the surface of the silica support under the reaction conditions (in situ catalyst assembly). Phosphoric acid predeposited on siliceous zeolite supports (e.g., P-BEA, P-SPP) synthesized via impregnation prior to the reaction (scenario 3) catalyzed the reaction heterogeneously without noticeable leaching and exhibited the highest activity and selectivity to p-xylene, suggesting an important role of the silica support and the need to ensure that phosphoric acid acts as a heterogeneous catalyst in order to accomplish selective conversion of DMF to p-xylene.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Bulk Stoichiometry-Controlled Surface Reconstruction of Nanosized Ni−In Intermetallic Catalysts Steers Methanol Selectivity in CO2 Hydrogenation

Intermetallic compounds (IMCs) are attractive platforms for elucidating structure−catalysis relationships due to their ordered atomic structure and well-defined bulk composition. Yet, how their surfaces reconstruct under reaction conditions and how such reconstruction is governed by bulk stoichiometry remain poorly understood. Here, we show that SiO2-supported Ni−In IMCs undergo reaction-driven surface reconstruction during CO2 hydrogenation and that bulk stoichiometry can be used to steer this evolution toward methanol formation. Among the compositions examined (Ni2In1, Ni1In1, Ni2In3, and Ni1In2), Ni2In3/SiO2 exhibits the highest methanol selectivity (∼70%) and a methanol space-time yield of 652 mg·gmetal−1·h−1 at 250 °C and 30 bar. Combined structural, surface characterization, and kinetic analyses suggest that the intermetallic bulk remains largely preserved, whereas the surface departs from the stoichiometric bulk and evolves toward InOx-enriched surface domains coupled to an electron-rich Ni−In intermetallic phase. The extent of this evolution depends strongly on the bulk Ni:In stoichiometry and is most pronounced for Ni2In3/SiO2. These findings identify bulk stoichiometry as a handle for tuning the working-state surface of intermetallic catalysts and provide a basis for designing methanol synthesis catalysts through controlled surface reconstruction.

Wang, Caiqi [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000198849990)↗

Observing and Modeling the Sequential Pairwise Reactions that Drive Solid‐State Ceramic Synthesis

Abstract Solid‐state synthesis from powder precursors is the primary processing route to advanced multicomponent ceramic materials. Designing reaction conditions and precursors for ceramic synthesis can be a laborious, trial‐and‐error process, as heterogeneous mixtures of precursors often evolve through a complicated series of reaction intermediates. Here, ab initio thermodynamics is used to model which pair of precursors has the most reactive interface, enabling the understanding and anticipation of which non‐equilibrium intermediates form in the early stages of a solid‐state reaction. In situ X‐ray diffraction and in situ electron microscopy are then used to observe how these initial intermediates influence phase evolution in the synthesis of the classic high‐temperature superconductor YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6+ x (YBCO). The model developed herein rationalizes how the replacement of the traditional BaCO 3 precursor with BaO 2 redirects phase evolution through a low‐temperature eutectic melt, facilitating the formation of YBCO in 30 min instead of 12+ h. Precursor selection plays an important role in tuning the thermodynamics of interfacial reactions and emerges as an important design parameter in planning kinetically favorable synthesis pathways to complex ceramic materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Real-time Atomic-scale Visualization of Reversible Copper Surface Activation during the CO Oxidation Reaction

Dynamic structural and chemical information of catalyst surface during a catalytic reaction is critical for deciphering the mechanisms governing the properties of catalysts. Transition-metal based catalysts have emerged as an important alternative to noble metal catalysts, but their catalytic mechanism remains largely elusive, complicated by dynamic structure and valence evolution. Herein, by using in situ aberration-corrected environmental transmission electron microscopy, we capture, for the first time at atomic level, the dynamic evolution of Cu surface during CO oxidation reaction. We discovered that, under reaction condition, the Cu surface is activated, typically involving 2-3 atomic layers with the formation of a reversible meta-stable phase that only exists during catalytic reactions. Further, we reveal the distinctive role of CO and O2 in the surface activation, featuring CO exposure to lead to surface roughening and consequently formation of low-coordinated Cu atoms, while O2 exposure to induce quasi-crystalline CuOx phase. Corrugated by DFT calculations, we rationalize crystalline CuOx reversibly transforms into the amorphous phase, acting as an active species to facilitate the interaction of gas reactants and catalyzing CO oxidation.

Luo, Langli↗

A divergent synthetic route to functional copolymer libraries via modular polymers

High-throughput polymer synthesis enables rapid exploration of chemical space but remains limited by batch-to-batch inconsistencies that can obscure structure–property relationship trends. To address this challenge, we developed a synthetic approach to produce multifunctional copolymers using post-polymerization modification of activated ester modular polymers with commercially available amines. Easily derivitized parent polymers—poly(tetrafluorophenyl acrylate) and poly(tetrafluorophenyl styrene sulfonate)—were synthesized by RAFT polymerization to yield single polymer batches containing highly reactive tetrafluorophenyl esters or sulfonate esters on each repeat unit. Tuning post-polymerization modification reaction conditions enabled the addition of sub-stoichiometric amounts of amines (relative to the repeat unit) to yield partially functionalized intermediates that could then be further derivatized. Reaction monitoring by 19 F NMR spectroscopy confirmed good control over these sequential post-polymerization modifications. This synthetic route produced a variety of copolymers with defined comonomer ratios while preserving the underlying polymer structure (degree of polymerization, dispersity, tacticity) for both the acrylate and styrene sulfonate backbones. We further applied this approach in a divergent manner to create a small library of structurally distinct copolymers from a single parent batch in three synthetic steps. This modular, divergent synthesis demonstrates a general route to structurally consistent copolymer libraries that enable systematic studies of structure–property relationships and can accelerate functional materials discovery.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Review and analysis of high temperature chemical reactions and the effect of non-equilibrium conditions

Chemical reactions at high temperatures have been considered extensively because of their importance to the heating effects on re-entry of space vehicles. Data on these reactions however, are not abundant and even when found there are discrepancies in data collected by various investigators. In particular, data for recombination reactions are calculated from the dissociation reactions or vice versa through the equilibrium constant. This involves the use of the principle of detailed balancing. This principle is discussed in reference to conditions where it is valid as well as to those where it is not valid. Related topics that merit further study or for which applicable information was available are briefly mentioned in an appendix to this report.

Johnson, R. E.↗

Node-Solution Microenvironment Governs the Selectivity of Thioanisole Oxidation within Catalytic Zr-Based Metal–Organic Framework

Lewis acidic metal oxides, including zirconia (ZrO 2 ), are catalytically active toward oxidative reactions in the presence of sacrificial oxidants like t-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). The structural ambiguity and heterogeneity of the ZrO 2 surface impose challenges to chemists in understanding the reaction mechanism down to atomic-level precision. The inorganic, Zr-oxo nodes of many crystalline metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) structurally mimic ZrO 2 . Herein, we report three novel findings: (A) Zr-based MOF, Zr-MOF-808 is catalytically competent in activating TBHP to induce oxygen atom transfer (OAT) reactions to a model substrate, thioanisole, at room temperature, (B) its reaction mechanism can be derived with greater structural precision owing to the crystallinity of the MOF, and (C) the node-binding agent and other reaction conditions significantly impact the selectivity between the singly oxidized methyl phenyl sulfoxide vs the doubly oxidized sulfone. These findings suggest that both the activity and selectivity of OAT reactions within Zr-MOF-808 are governed by the chemistry occurring at the interface of the node and the surrounding reaction medium. Implications of these findings in OAT reactions and other MOF/metal oxide-catalyzed relevant catalysis are discussed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗