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Abstract Olefin oligomerization by γ‐Al2O3has recently been reported, and it was suggested that Lewis acid sites are catalytic. The goal of this study is to determine the number of active sites per gram of alumina to confirm that Lewis acid sites are indeed catalytic. Addition of an inorganic Sr oxide base resulted in a linear decrease in the propylene oligomerization conversion at loadings up to 0.3 wt %; while, there is a >95 % loss in conversion above 1 wt % Sr. Additionally, there was a linear decrease in the intensity of the Lewis acid peaks of absorbed pyridine in the IR spectra with an increase in Sr loading, which correlates with the loss in propylene conversion, suggesting that Lewis acid sites are catalytic. Characterization of the Sr structure by XAS and STEM indicates that single Sr2+ions are bound to the γ‐Al2O3surface and poison one catalytic site per Sr ion. The maximum loading needed to poison all catalytic sites, assuming uniform surface coverage, was ∼0.4 wt % Sr, giving an acid site density of ∼0.2 sites per nm2of γ‐Al2O3, or approximately 3 % of the alumina surface.
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CO 2 Capture by 2-(Methylamino)pyridine Ligated Aluminum Alkyl Complexes:
A set of novel, easily synthesized aluminum complexes, Al(κ2-N,N-2-(methylamino)pyridine)2R (R = Et, iBu) are reported. When subjected to 1 atm of CO2 pressure, each hemilabile pyridine arm dissociates and facilitates cooperative activation of the CO2 substrate reminiscent of a Frustrated Lewis Pair. This reaction has limited precedent for Al/N based Lewis Pair systems, and this is the first system readily shown to sequester multiple equivalents of CO2 per aluminum center. The ethyl variant then reacts further, inserting a third equivalent of CO2 into the aluminum alkyl to generate an aluminum carboxylate. Examples of this type of reactivity are rare under thermal conditions. A joint experimental/computational study validates the proposed reaction mechanism.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1846408
- PAR ID:
- 10158835
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry
- ISSN:
- 1434-1948
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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- Free Publicly Accessible Full Text
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1002/ejic.202000437
