Center for Molecular Modeling - FWO MOFs (3G048612) B/12561/*

Influence of a confined methanol solvent on the reactivity of active sites in UiO-66

chiara — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 13:59:10 +0000

C. Caratelli, J. Hajek, S.M.J. Rogge, S. Vandenbrande, E.J. Meijer, M. Waroquier, V. Van Speybroeck

ChemPhysChem

19 (4), 420-429

2018

Abstract

UiO-66, composed of Zr-oxide bricks and terephthalate linkers, is currently one of the most studied metal-organic frameworks due to its exceptional stability. Defects can be introduced in the structure, creating undercoordinated Zr atoms which are Lewis acid sites. Here, additional Brønsted sites can be generated by coordinated protic species from the solvent. In this contribution, a multilevel modeling approach was applied to unravel the effect of a confined methanol solvent on the active sites in UiO-66. First, active sites were explored with static periodic density functional theory calculations to investigate adsorption of water and methanol. Solvent was then introduced in the pores with grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations, followed by a series of molecular dynamics simulations at operating conditions. A hydrogen-bonded network of methanol molecules is formed, allowing the protons to shuttle between solvent methanol, adsorbed water, and the inorganic brick. Upon deprotonation of an active site, the methanol solvent aids the transfer of protons and stabilizes charged configurations via hydrogen bonding, which could be crucial in stabilizing reactive intermediates. The multilevel modeling approach adopted here sheds light on the important role of a confined solvent on the active sites in the UiO-66 material, introducing dynamic acidity in the system at finite temperatures by which protons may be easily shuttled from various positions at the active sites.

Open Access version available at UGent repository

Gold Open Access

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cphc.201701109

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Caratelli_et_al-2018-ChemPhysChem.pdf

Nature of active sites on UiO-66 and beneficial influence of water in the catalysis of Fischer esterification

michel — Mon, 13 Feb 2017 14:07:11 +0000

C. Caratelli, J. Hajek, F. G. Cirujano, M. Waroquier, F. X. Llabres i Xamena, V. Van Speybroeck

Journal of Catalysis

352, 401-414

2017

Abstract

Zirconium terephthalate UiO-66 type metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are known to be highly active, stable and reusable catalysts for the esterification of carboxylic acids with alcohols. Moreover, when defects are present in the structure of these MOFs, coordinatively unsaturated Zr ions with Lewis acid properties are created, which increase the catalytic activity of the resulting defective solids. In the present work, molecular modeling techniques combined with new experimental data on various defective hydrated and dehydrated materials allow to unravel the nature and role of defective active sites in the Fischer esterification and the role of coordinated water molecules to provide additional Brønsted sites. Periodic models of UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 catalysts have been used to unravel the reaction mechanism on hydrated and dehydrated materials. Various adsorption modes of water and methanol are investigated. The proposed mechanisms are in line with experimental observations that amino groups yield a reduction in the reaction barriers, although they have a passive role in modulating the electronic structure of the material. Water has a beneficial role on the reaction cycle by providing extra Brønsted sites and by providing stabilization for various intermediates through hydrogen bonds.

Open Access version available at UGent repository

Gold Open Access

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2017.06.014

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1-s2.0-S002195171730221X-main-1.pdf

Metal-organic and covalent organic frameworks as single-site catalysts

sven — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 12:53:35 +0000

S.M.J. Rogge, A. Bavykina, J. Hajek, H. Garcia, A.I. Olivos-Suarez, A. Sepúlveda-Escribano, A. Vimont, G. Clet, P. Bazin, F. Kapteijn, M. Daturi, E.V. Ramos-Fernandez, F.X. Llabres i Xamena, V. Van Speybroeck, J. Gascon

Chemical Society Reviews

46 (11), 3134-3184

2017

Abstract

Heterogeneous single-site catalysts consist of isolated, well-defined, active sites that are spatially separated in a given solid and, ideally, structurally identical. In this review, the potential of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as platforms for the development of heterogeneous single-site catalysts is reviewed thoroughly. In the first part of this article, synthetic strategies and progress in the implementation of such sites in these two classes of materials are discussed. Because these solids are excellent playgrounds to allow a better understanding of catalytic functions, we highlight the most important recent advances in the modelling and spectroscopic characterization of single-site catalysts based on these materials. Finally, we discuss the potential of MOFs as materials in which several single-site catalytic functions can be combined within one framework along with their potential as powerful enzyme-mimicking materials. The review is wrapped up with our personal vision on future research directions.

Open Access version available at UGent repository

Gold Open Access

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C7CS00033B

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Rogge_MOF_2017.pdf

The remarkable amphoteric nature of defective UiO-66 in catalytic reactions

michel — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 15:56:00 +0000

J. Hajek, B. Bueken, M. Waroquier, D. De Vos, V. Van Speybroeck

ChemCatChem

9 (12), 2203-2210

2017

Abstract

One of the major requirements in solid acids and bases catalyzed reactions is that the reactants, intermediates or activated complexes cooperate with several functions of catalyst support. In this work the remarkable bifunctional behavior of the defective UiO-66(Zr) metal organic framework is shown for acid-base pair catalysis. The active site relies on the presence of undercoordinated zirconium sites, which may be tuned by removing framework linkers and by removal of water from the inorganic bricks using a dehydration treatment. To elucidate the amphoteric nature of defective UiO-66, the Oppenauer oxidation of primary alcohols has been theoretically investigated using density functional theory (DFT) and the periodic approach. The presence of acid and basic centers within molecular distances has been shown crucial for determining the catalytic activity of the material. Hydrated and dehydrated bricks have a distinct influence on modulation of the acidity and basicity of the active sites. In any case both functions need to cooperate in a concerted way to enable the chemical transformation.

Open Access version available at UGent repository

Gold Open Access

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cctc.201601689

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Hajek_et_al-2017-ChemCatChem.pdf

A Flexible Photoactive Titanium Metal-Organic Framework Based on a [Ti-3(IV)(mu(3)-O)(O)(2)(COO)(6)] Cluster

michel — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 19:59:38 +0000

B. Bueken, F. Vermoortele, D.E.P. Vanpoucke, H. Reinsch, C. Tsou, P. Valvekens, T. De Baerdemaeker, R. Ameloot, C. Kirschhock, V. Van Speybroeck, J. Mayer, D. De Vos

Angewandte Chemie int. Ed.

127, 14118 –14123

2015

Abstract

The synthesis of titanium-carboxylate metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is hampered by the high reactivity of the commonly employed alkoxide precursors. Herein, we present an innovative approach to titanium-based MOFs by the use of titanocene dichloride to synthesize COK-69, the first breathing Ti MOF, which is built up from trans-1,4-cyclo-hexanedicarboxylate linkers and an unprecedented [Ti-3(IV)(mu(3)-O)(O)(2)(COO)(6)] cluster. The photoactive properties of COK-69 were investigated in depth by proton-coupled electron-transfer experiments, which revealed that up to one Ti-IV center per cluster can be photoreduced to Ti-III while preserving the structural integrity of the framework. The electronic structure of COK-69 was determined by molecular modeling, and a band gap of 3.77 eV was found.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201505512

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Bueken_et_al-2015-Angewandte_Chemie.pdf

Mechanistic studies of aldol condensations in UiO-66 and UiO-66-NH2 metal organic frameworks

michel — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 09:17:46 +0000

J. Hajek, M. Vandichel, B. Van de Voorde, B. Bueken, D. De Vos, M. Waroquier, V. Van Speybroeck

Journal of Catalysis

331, 1-12

2015

Abstract

A full mechanistic investigation is proposed for the industrially important cross-aldol condensation reaction of heptanal with benzaldehyde on the UiO-66 and the amino-functionalized UiO-66-NH2 metal–organic frameworks to form jasminaldehyde. Several experimental studies indicate that the activity for the aldol condensation reaction can be increased by proper functionalization of the material, e.g. by introducing an additional basic amino site and thus creating a bifunctional acid–base catalyst for the aldol condensation. The precise molecular level origin for this behavior is to date unclear. Herein state-of-the-art Density-Functional Theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to unravel the mechanism of the cross- and self-aldol condensations of benzaldehyde and propanal. To this end free energy calculations have been performed on both extended cluster and periodic models. It is found that the mechanism on both catalysts is essentially the same, although a slightly stronger adsorption of the reactants and slightly lower barriers were found on the amino functionalized material, pointing toward higher initial activities. New experiments were performed to confirm these observations. It is indeed found that the initial activity toward cross-aldol condensation on the amino functionalized material is higher, although after about 40 min of reaction both materials become equally active. Our results furthermore point out that the basic amino groups may promote side reactions such as imine formation, which is induced by water. The study as presented can assist to engineer materials at the molecular level toward the desired products.

Open Access version available at UGent repository

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2015.08.015

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15-JCatalysis-331-1-Hajek.pdf

Active site engineering in UiO-66 type metal-organic frameworks by intentional creation of defects: a theoretical rationalization

mat — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:08:29 +0000

M. Vandichel, J. Hajek, F. Vermoortele, D. De Vos, M. Waroquier, V. Van Speybroeck

CrystEngComm

17 (2), 395-406

2015

Abstract

The catalytic activity of the Zr-benzenedicarboxylate (Zr-BDC) UiO-66 can be drastically increased in the absence of part of the linkers, as it removes the full coordination of the framework metal ions and leads to open sites. As a result, metal centers become more accessible and thus more active for Lewis acid catalysed reactions. Addition of modulators (MDL) to the synthesis mixture can create more linker deficiencies (Vermoortele et al., J Am Chem Soc, 2013, 135, 11465) and can lead to a significant increase of the catalytic activity due to the creation of a larger number of open sites. In this paper, we rationalize the function of the modulators under real synthesis conditions by the construction of free energy diagrams. The UiO-66 type materials form a very appropriate test case as the effect of addition of modulators hydrochloric acid (HCl) and trifluoroacetate (TFA) has been intensively investigated experimentally for the synthesis process and post-synthetic thermal activation. In synthesis conditions, direct removal of BDC linkers requires a high free energy but replacement of such linker by one or more TFA species might occur especially at high TFA:BDC ratios in the reaction mixture. The presence of HCl furthermore enhances the creation of defect structures. Post-synthesis activation procedures at higher temperatures lead to a substantial removal of the species coordinated to the Zr bricks creating open metal sites. A mechanistic pathway is presented for the dehydroxylation process of the hexanuclear Zr cluster. For the citronellal cyclization, we show that the presence of some residual TFA in the structure may lead to faster reactions in complete agreement with experiment. Hirshfeld-e partial charges for the Zr ions have been computed to investigate their sensitivity to substituent effects; a strong correlation with the experimental Hammett parameters, and with the rates of the citronellal cyclization is found. The theoretical rationalization may serve as a basis for detailed active site engineering studies.

Open Access version available at UGent repository

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C4CE01672F

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14_crystengcomm_xxxx_Vandichel.pdf

c4ce01672f1.pdf

Metal-dioxidoterephthalate MOFs of the MOF-74 type: microporous basic catalysts with well-defined active sites

michel — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 15:01:30 +0000

P. Valvekens, M. Vandichel, M. Waroquier, V. Van Speybroeck, D. De Vos

Journal of Catalysis

317, 1–10

2014

Abstract

The hybrid frameworks M2dobdc (dobdc4− = 2,5-dioxidoterephthalate, M2+ = Mg2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+), commonly known as CPO-27 or MOF-74, are shown to be active catalysts in base-catalyzed reactions such as Knoevenagel condensations or Michael additions. Rather than utilizing N-functionalized linkers as a source of basicity, the intrinsic basicity of these materials arises from the presence of the phenolate oxygen atoms coordinated to the metal ions. The overall activity is due to a complex interplay of the basic properties of these structural phenolates and the reactant binding characteristics of the coordinatively unsaturated sites. The nature of the active site and the order of activity between the different M2dobdc materials were rationalized via computational efforts; the most active material, both in theory and in experiment, is the Ni-containing variant. The basicity of Ni2dobdc was experimentally proven by chemisorption of pyrrole and observation by IR spectroscopy.

Open Access version available at UGent repository

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2014.06.006

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final_published_1-s2.0-S0021951714001614-main.pdf

Synthesis modulation as a tool to increase the catalytic activity of MOFs: the unique case of UiO-66(Zr)

michel — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:26:34 +0000

F. Vermoortele, B. Bueken, G. Le Bars, B. Van de Voorde, M. Vandichel, K. Houthoofd, A. Vimont, M. Daturi, M. Waroquier, V. Van Speybroeck, C. Kirschhock, D. De Vos

JACS (Journal of the American Chemical Society)

135 (31), 11465–11468

2013

Abstract

The catalytic activity of the zirconium terephthalate UiO-66(Zr) can be drastically increased by using a modulation approach. The combined use of trifluoroacetic acid and HCl during the synthesis results in a highly crystalline material, with partial substitution of terephthalates by trifluoroacetate. Thermal activation of the material leads not only to dehydroxylation of the hexanuclear Zr cluster but also to post-synthetic removal of the trifluoroacetate groups, resulting in a more open framework with a large number of open sites. Consequently, the material is a highly active catalyst for several Lewis acid catalyzed reactions.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ja405078u

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13_jacs_135_11465_Vermoortele.pdf

Insight in the activity and diastereoselectivity of various Lewis acid catalysts for the citronellal cyclization

mat — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 12:38:41 +0000

M. Vandichel, F. Vermoortele, S. Cottenie, D. De Vos, M. Waroquier, V. Van Speybroeck

Journal of Catalysis

305, 118-129

2013

Abstract

Industrial (-)-menthol production generally relies on the hydrogenation of (-)-isopulegol, which is in turn produced with high selectivity by cyclization of (+)-citronellal. This paper uses a combined theoretical and experimental approach to study the activity and selectivity of three Lewis acid catalysts for this reaction, namely ZnBr2, aluminum tris(2,6-diphenylphenoxide) (ATPH) and the heterogeneous metal-organic framework Cu3BTC2 (BTC = benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate). ATPH is a strong Lewis acid homogeneous catalyst with bulky ligands which provides very high selectivities for the desired stereo-isomer (> 99 %). The performance of the catalysts was evaluated as a function of temperature, which revealed that higher catalyst activity allows working at lower temperatures and improves the selectivity for isopulegol. The selectivity distribution is kinetically driven for ZnBr2 and ATPH. The theoretical selectivity distributions rely on the determination of an extensive set of diastereomeric transition states, for which the differences in free energy have been calculated using a complementary set of ab initio techniques. Given the sensitivity of the selectivity to small Gibbs free energy differences, the agreement between experimental and theoretical selectivities is satisfactory. On basis of the obtained insights rational design of new catalysts may be obtained. As proof of concept, the hypothetical Cu3(BTC-(NO2)3)2 Lewis catalyst – in which each phenyl hydrogen of the BTC ligand is replaced by a nitro group - is predicted to be very selective.

Open Access version available at UGent repository

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2013.04.017

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Vandichel-JC-2013-ActivitySelectivityLewisAcidCatalystsForCitronellalCyclization.pdf

13_jcatlysis_305_118_vandichel.pdf