Tag

Catalysis

All articles tagged with #catalysis

science16 days ago•6 min saved

Catalyst Frees Electrons to Rewrite Redox Rules in Chemistry

UW–Madison chemists developed a catalyst that ejects electrons directly into solvent, bypassing traditional selectivity in single‑electron transfer and allowing reactions to proceed with molecules that normally wouldn’t receive the electron. Supported by CSU and CU Boulder, the team shows that selectivity can emerge after the electron transfer, potentially unlocking new coupling reactions and expanding redox chemistry, with findings published in Nature.

via ScienceDaily|

#catalysis #chemistry #electron-transfer

science2 months ago•10 min saved

Ligand-guided remote desaturation converts simple aliphatic acids into gamma-lactones

Researchers report a ligand-enabled palladium-catalyzed method that activates distal γ-C(sp3)–H bonds in unbiased aliphatic carboxylic acids (from fatty and cyclic feedstocks) using designed O-allyl amido ester ligands, directly furnishing distal desaturated γ-lactones and double-desaturated γ-spirolactones. Mechanistic data support Pd(II)-mediated γ-C(sp3)–H activation, followed by dehydrogenation and intramolecular cyclization; the approach enables rapid assembly of biologically relevant scaffolds (e.g., muricatacin) from simple acids, offering a streamlined route to complex natural products and pharmaceuticals.

via Nature|

#c-h-activation #catalysis #chemistry

science2 months ago•6 min saved

Gold’s surface secrets: inert bulk, active nanoparticles as catalysts

Gold isn’t inherently inert: bulk gold surfaces rearrange into a hexagonal, inactive pattern that resists reactions, while gold nanoparticles can’t fully reconstruct due to their limited atoms, exposing square-pattern surfaces that readily bind and split oxygen, making nanoparticles catalytic even though bulk gold is not.

via Ars Technica|

#catalysis #gold #nanoparticles

science3 months ago•6 min saved

Gold’s Surface Pattern Dictates Oxygen Activation, Explaining Inertia in Bulk and Reactivity in Nanoparticles

Computational study shows that gold’s surface atom arrangement governs its ability to activate oxygen: tightly packed reconstructed surfaces block O2 from splitting, keeping bulk gold inert, while looser unreconstructed square-like surfaces allow oxygen dissociation, enabling nanoparticle-catalyzed oxidation and suggesting new ways to design gold-based catalysts that balance durability with reactivity.

via ScienceAlert|

#catalysis #gold #gold-nanoparticles

physics-and-chemistry3 months ago•17 min saved

Gold’s Surface Hexagon: The Atomic Trick Behind Its Lasting Shine

Researchers used computer simulations to show gold’s surface atoms rearrange into hexagonal patterns that dramatically suppress oxidation (by about a billion to a trillion), explaining its long-lasting shine and suggesting new ways to optimize gold-catalyzed reactions.

via Gizmodo|

#catalysis #gold #materials-science

science3 months ago•5 min saved

Triangular Aluminum Molecule Could Challenge Platinum in Catalysis

Researchers at King’s College London synthesized a novel Al3 triangular compound, cyclotrialumane, that remains intact in solution and reacts with ethylene at room temperature to form unprecedented aluminum–carbon rings, a reactivity once seen only in precious metals, signaling a potential path to replacing platinum-group catalysts—though the work is early-stage and lab-scale, published in Nature Communications.

via Indian Defence Review|

#aluminum #catalysis #cyclotrialumane

science7 months ago•9 min saved

Atomic Corrals Unveil a Hidden Liquid State in Metals

Scientists used transmission electron microscopy to watch molten platinum nanoparticles on graphene and found that some atoms remain pinned at defect sites, forming an atomic corral that traps liquid metal and alters solidification. When only a few atoms are fixed, crystallization proceeds normally; with many pinned atoms, the liquid can remain unfrozen well below its normal freezing point and turn into an amorphous metal instead of a crystal. This corralled, hybrid state could impact catalyst design and materials science, and researchers aim to learn to place pinned atoms more precisely to build larger corrals.

via SciTechDaily|

#atomic-scale #catalysis #corral

science7 months ago•6 min saved

Manganese Catalyst Breakthrough Enables Durable CO2-to-Formate Conversion

Researchers from Yale and the University of Missouri report that manganese-based catalysts can efficiently convert atmospheric CO2 into formate, a potential hydrogen carrier for fuel cells. The key advance is stabilizing the Mn catalysts by incorporating an additional donor atom into the ligand (hemilabile, pincer-like design), dramatically extending catalyst lifetimes and outperforming many precious-metal systems. This low-cost, durable approach to CO2 utilization could be broadly applicable to other catalytic transformations and supports sustainable hydrogen storage strategies.

via SciTechDaily|

#catalysis #co2-utilization #formate

science10 months ago•4 min saved

Scientists Measure Tiny Electron Fraction, Solving Century-Old Catalysis Mystery

Scientists at the University of Minnesota and University of Houston have developed a new technique called Isopotential Electron Titration (IET) to directly measure the tiny fraction of an electron involved in catalytic processes, providing new insights into how catalysts like gold, silver, and platinum work, which could lead to more efficient and cost-effective manufacturing of fuels, chemicals, and materials.

via SciTechDaily|

#catalysis #electron-sharing #energy-technology

science1 year ago•2 min saved

Innovative Catalytic Method for Enantioselective Alkylidenecyclopropane Synthesis

The article reports a new method for the enantioselective synthesis of alkylidenecyclopropanes using bifunctional iminophosphorane catalysis, enabling the production of enantioenriched small ring carbocycles that are important in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, with applications demonstrated in the synthesis of insecticide cores like permethrin.

via Nature|

#alkylidenecyclopropanes #catalysis #drug-synthesis

chemistry2 years ago•4 min saved

"Oxygen's Impact on Nickel Catalysts in Methane Reforming"

A study on the mechanism of CH4 dry reforming on nickel catalysts reveals the formation of metastable surface nickel-oxygen structures from CO2 dissociation, which exhibit different catalytic properties and induce rate oscillations. Understanding the role of different oxygen species on a nickel catalyst during dry reforming of methane is crucial for designing high-performance catalysts. The study highlights the critical role of dissociative CO2 adsorption in regulating the oxygen content of the catalyst and CH4 activation, providing fundamental insights into the processes occurring at the catalyst surface and how this modulates the catalytic performance during dry reforming of methane.

via Phys.org|

#catalysis #chemistry #methane-reforming

chemistry2 years ago•6 min saved

"Efficient Halodealkylation of Fully Alkylated Silanes with Arenium-Ion Catalysts"

Researchers have developed a new method for the halodealkylation of fully alkylated silanes using arenium-ion catalysis. This approach offers a more sustainable and efficient route for the synthesis of methylchlorosilanes, which are important precursors in the production of silicones. The study provides insights into the catalysts, mechanisms, reaction conditions, and reactor designs involved in this process, highlighting the potential for further advancements in the field of molecular catalysis and the silicone industry.

via Nature.com|

#alkylsilanes #arenium-ion #catalysis

science-and-technology3 years ago•3 min saved

Cracking the Code: Unveiling the Elusive Catalytic Intermediate

Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have successfully observed and confirmed the structure and properties of a transition metal-nitrenoid intermediate, a key component in catalytic amination reactions. By using X-ray photocrystallography, the team captured the elusive intermediate, shedding light on the process of transforming hydrocarbons into amides, which are important in pharmaceutical and materials science. This breakthrough provides valuable insights into reaction pathways and catalyst development, potentially leading to more efficient and selective catalysts for hydrocarbon amination reactions in various industries.

via SciTechDaily|

#amination-reactions #catalysis #intermediates

science-and-technology3 years ago•4 min saved

Unveiling the 'Molecular Scissors': Researchers Capture Atomic View of Synthetic DNA

Researchers at West Virginia University have successfully captured the atomic view of synthetic DNA, known as DNAzymes, which have scissor-like functions. By understanding the structure and catalytic abilities of these synthetic DNA molecules, scientists hope to develop new technologies for medical diagnoses and treatments. The findings provide insights into how chemically active DNA can promote unique functions and pave the way for advancements in health and diagnostics. The researchers aim to improve the efficiency of the technology for potential applications in treating diseases such as retinal degeneration and cancer.

via Phys.org|

#catalysis #disease-treatment #medical-technology

science3 years ago•1 min saved

Unveiling the Formation of Primordial Proteins on Prebiotic Earth

Scientists at Tohoku University have discovered that boric acid can catalyze the formation of lengthy peptides under neutral and acidic conditions, challenging previous theories that alkaline conditions were necessary. The presence of boron-containing minerals in ancient rocks supports the idea that boron-rich, neutral environments on prebiotic Earth could have facilitated protein synthesis. This finding sheds light on the origin of life and the formation of catalytic organic polymers. The researchers evaporated amino acid solutions containing boric acid and observed the creation of polypeptides, with the longest peptides reaching 39 monomers in length under neutral conditions. The study suggests that boron-rich, neutral evaporative environments were ideal for the formation and interaction of essential polymers in the chemical evolution of life.

via SciTechDaily|

#boron #catalysis #origin-of-life