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New Metal Catalysts for Sustainable Chemistry

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Cross-Field Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 4427

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China
Interests: anti-cancer drug; biomimetic enzymatic reactions; catalysis; mechanism; transition metal complexes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Developing new metal catalysts for efficiently converting natural resources into valuable products is necessary to meet the high energy demand of human beings. This Special Issue aims to gather global experts to develop highly versatile, robust, and sustainable catalysts that could utilize earth-abundant small molecules more efficiently. The catalytic reactions include but are not limited to ammonia oxidation; carbon dioxide reduction; hydrocarbon functionalization; and splitting of dinitrogen, dioxygen, and water.

We highly welcome original research articles, communications, and reviews covering the design of new metal catalysts, mechanistic study, and catalytic application for the above reactions. These results should provide valuable insights and contribute to the development of sustainable catalysts.

Dr. Wai Lun Man
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • metal complexes
  • catalysis
  • mechanism
  • water splitting
  • CO2 reduction
  • C–H activation
  • O2 reduction
  • NH3 oxidation

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 2112 KiB  
Article
Palladium-Catalyzed Tsuji–Trost-Type Reaction of 3-Indolylmethylacetates with O, and S Soft Nucleophiles
by Antonia Iazzetti, Antonio Arcadi, Marco Chiarini, Giancarlo Fabrizi, Antonella Goggiamani, Federico Marrone, Andrea Serraiocco and Roberta Zoppoli
Molecules 2024, 29(14), 3434; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29143434 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 644
Abstract
The chemical valorization of widespread molecules in renewable sources is a field of research widely investigated in the last decades. In this context, we envisaged that indole-3-carbinol, present in different Cruciferae plants, could be a readily available building block for the synthesis of [...] Read more.
The chemical valorization of widespread molecules in renewable sources is a field of research widely investigated in the last decades. In this context, we envisaged that indole-3-carbinol, present in different Cruciferae plants, could be a readily available building block for the synthesis of various classes of indoles through a palladium-catalyzed Tsuji–Trost-type reaction with O and S soft nucleophiles. The regiochemical outcome of this high-yielding functionalization shows that the nucleophilic substitution occurs only at the benzylic position. Interestingly, with this protocol, the sulfonyl unit could be appended to the indole nucleus, providing convenient access to new classes of molecules with potential bioactivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Metal Catalysts for Sustainable Chemistry)
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14 pages, 4055 KiB  
Article
A Low-Noble-Metal Ru@CoMn2O4 Spinel Catalyst for the Efficient Oxidation of Propane
by Yan Cui, Zequan Zeng, Yaqin Hou, Shuang Ma, Wenzhong Shen and Zhanggen Huang
Molecules 2024, 29(10), 2255; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29102255 - 11 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 781
Abstract
Noble metals have become a research hotspot for the oxidation of light alkanes due to their low ignition temperature and easy activation of C-H; however, sintering and a high price limit their industrial applications. The preparation of effective and low-noble-metal catalysts still presents [...] Read more.
Noble metals have become a research hotspot for the oxidation of light alkanes due to their low ignition temperature and easy activation of C-H; however, sintering and a high price limit their industrial applications. The preparation of effective and low-noble-metal catalysts still presents profound challenges. Herein, we describe how a Ru@CoMn2O4 spinel catalyst was synthesized via Ru in situ doping to promote the activity of propane oxidation. Ru@CoMn2O4 exhibited much higher catalytic activity than CoMn2O4, achieving 90% propane conversion at 217 °C. H2-TPR, O2-TPD, and XPS were used to evaluate the catalyst adsorption/lattice oxygen activity and the adsorption and catalytic oxidation capacity of propane. It could be concluded that Ru promoted synergistic interactions between cobalt and manganese, leading to electron transfer from the highly electronegative Ru to Co2+ and Mn3+. Compared with CoMn2O4, 0.1% Ru@CoMn2O4, with a higher quantity of lattice oxygen and oxygen mobility, possessed a stronger capability of reducibility, which was the main reason for the significant increase in the activity of Ru@CoMn2O4. In addition, intermediates of the reaction between adsorbed propane and lattice oxygen on the catalyst were monitored by in situ DRIFTS. This work highlights a new strategy for the design of a low-noble-metal catalyst for the efficient oxidation of propane. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Metal Catalysts for Sustainable Chemistry)
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13 pages, 5160 KiB  
Article
Phosphorus Modification of Iron: Mechanistic Insights into Ammonia Synthesis on Fe2P Catalyst
by Abdulrahman Almithn
Molecules 2024, 29(8), 1894; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29081894 - 22 Apr 2024
Viewed by 952
Abstract
Ammonia (NH3) is a critical chemical for fertilizer production and a potential future energy carrier within a sustainable hydrogen economy. The industrial Haber–Bosch process, though effective, operates under harsh conditions due to the high thermodynamic stability of the nitrogen molecule (N [...] Read more.
Ammonia (NH3) is a critical chemical for fertilizer production and a potential future energy carrier within a sustainable hydrogen economy. The industrial Haber–Bosch process, though effective, operates under harsh conditions due to the high thermodynamic stability of the nitrogen molecule (N2). This motivates the search for alternative catalysts that facilitate ammonia synthesis at milder temperatures and pressures. Theoretical and experimental studies suggest that circumventing the trade-off between N–N activation and subsequent NHx hydrogenation, governed by the Brønsted–Evans–Polanyi (BEP) relationship, is key to achieving this goal. Recent studies indicate metal phosphides as promising catalyst materials. In this work, a comprehensive density functional theory (DFT) study comparing the mechanisms and potential reaction pathways for ammonia synthesis on Fe(110) and Fe2P(001) is presented. The results reveal substantial differences in the adsorption strengths of NHx intermediates, with Fe2P(001) exhibiting weaker binding compared to Fe(110). For N–N bond cleavage, multiple competing pathways become viable on Fe2P(001), including routes involving the pre-hydrogenation of adsorbed N2 (e.g., through *NNH*). Analysis of DFT-derived turnover rates as a function of hydrogen pressure (H2) highlights the increased importance of these hydrogenated intermediates on Fe2P(001) compared to Fe(110) where direct N2 dissociation dominates. These findings suggest that phosphorus incorporation modifies the ammonia synthesis mechanism, offering alternative pathways that may circumvent the limitations of traditional transition metal catalysts. This work provides theoretical insights for the rational design of Fe-based catalysts and motivates further exploration of phosphide-based materials for sustainable ammonia production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Metal Catalysts for Sustainable Chemistry)
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Review

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22 pages, 9944 KiB  
Review
A Review of Mn-Based Catalysts for Abating NOx and CO in Low-Temperature Flue Gas: Performance and Mechanisms
by Xiaodi Li, Shan Ren, Zhichao Chen, Mingming Wang, Lin Chen, Hongsheng Chen and Xitao Yin
Molecules 2023, 28(19), 6885; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28196885 - 30 Sep 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1569
Abstract
Mn-based catalysts have attracted significant attention in the field of catalytic research, particularly in NOx catalytic reductions and CO catalytic oxidation, owing to their good catalytic activity at low temperatures. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of Mn-based catalysts for [...] Read more.
Mn-based catalysts have attracted significant attention in the field of catalytic research, particularly in NOx catalytic reductions and CO catalytic oxidation, owing to their good catalytic activity at low temperatures. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of Mn-based catalysts for the removal of NOx and CO. The effects of crystallinity, valence states, morphology, and active component dispersion on the catalytic performance of Mn-based catalysts are thoroughly reviewed. This review delves into the reaction mechanisms of Mn-based catalysts for NOx reduction, CO oxidation, and the simultaneous removal of NOx and CO. Finally, according to the catalytic performance of Mn-based catalysts and the challenges faced, a possible perspective and direction for Mn-based catalysts for abating NOx and CO is proposed. And we expect that this review can serve as a reference for the catalytic treatment of NOx and CO in future studies and applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Metal Catalysts for Sustainable Chemistry)
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