Methane C–H Activation by [Cu 2 O] 2+ and [Cu 3 O 3 ] 2+ in Copper-Exchanged Zeolites: Computational Analysis of Redox Chemistry and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Suleiman, Olabisi; Panthi, Dipak; Adeyiga, Olajumoke; Odoh, Samuel O.

doi:10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c03693

Abstract Methane over‐oxidation by copper‐exchanged zeolites prevents realization of high‐yield catalytic conversion. However, there has been little description of the mechanism for methane over‐oxidation at the copper active sites of these zeolites. Using density functional theory (DFT) computations, we reported that tricopper [Cu₃O₃]²⁺active sites can over‐oxidize methane. However, the role of [Cu₃O₃]²⁺sites in methane‐to‐methanol conversion remains under debate. Here, we examine methane over‐oxidation by dicopper [Cu₂O]²⁺and [Cu₂O₂]²⁺sites using DFT in zeolite mordenite (MOR). For [Cu₂O₂]²⁺, we considered the μ‐(η²:η²) peroxo‐, and bis(μ‐oxo) motifs. These sites were considered in the eight‐membered (8MR) ring of MOR. μ‐(η²:η²) peroxo sites are unstable relative to the bis(μ‐oxo) motif with a small interconversion barrier. Unlike [Cu₂O]²⁺which is active for methane C−H activation, [Cu₂O₂]²⁺has a very large methane C−H activation barrier in the 8MR. Stabilization of methanol and methyl at unreacted dicopper sites however leads to over‐oxidation via sequential hydrogen atom abstraction steps. For methanol, these are initiated by abstraction of the CH₃group, followed by OH and can proceed near 200 °C. Thus, for [Cu₂O]²⁺and [Cu₂O₂]²⁺species, over‐oxidation is an inter‐site process. We discuss the implications of these findings for methanol selectivity, especially in comparison to the intra‐site process for [Cu₃O₃]²⁺sites and the role of Brønsted acid sites.

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