Alkoxide

Abstract: Titania, zirconia, and alumina samples with periodic three-dimensional arrays of macropores were synthesized from the corresponding metal alkoxides, using latex spheres as templates. In a fast, single-step reaction, the monomeric alkoxide precursors permeate the array of bulk polystyrene spheres and condense in air at room temperature. Close packed, open-pore structures with 320- to 360-nanometer voids are obtained after calcination of the organic component at 575 degreesC. The examples presented demonstrate the compositional diversity possible with this technique. The resulting highly structured ceramics could have applications in areas ranging from quantum electronics to photocatalysis to battery materials.

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the scope of Ziegler catalysis; stereoselectivity, kinetics, and mechanism of Ziegler catalysis; homogeneous Ziegler–Natta catalysts; and side reactions in homogeneous catalysts. Ziegler catalysis involves rapid polymerization of ethylene and α-ole-fins with the aid of catalysts based on transition-element compounds, normally formed by the reaction of a transition-element halide or alkoxide or alkyl or aryl derivative with a main-group element alkyl or alkyl halide. There are thousands of patents involving every combination of pure or mixed main-group alkyls with transition-element compounds, each claiming advantages. The result of the early work led to the development of “second-generation” Ziegler catalysts. Polymers produced with unmodified Ziegler catalysts showed extremely high molecular weight and broad distribution, and in some cases, there was evidence for “living polymer.” All homogeneous catalyst systems for ethylene polymerization become heterogeneous when polyethylene is formed. On using vanadium-based homogeneous catalysts, polymers consisting of syndiotactic stereo blocks and stereo-irregular blocks are obtained. Very high stereoselectivity is observed for racemic 4-methyl- 1-hexene and racemic 3,7-dimethyl-1-octene, where the asymmetric carbon atom is in the α-position relative to the double bond. Stereoselectivity is caused by the chirality of the catalytically active center, and not by chiral atoms in the growing chain. It must be concluded from the results that reactions take place, which change the number of active sites present, due to the different behavior of the polymers in solution. Study of these new catalysts is intensive. After a short induction period, the activity of polymerization increases as a function of the monomer concentration.

Abstract: The alkoxide sol−gel synthesis of nanostructured TiO2 has been studied systematically to examine the processing parameters that control crystallite size and phase. Nonagglomerated, ultrafine anatas...

Abstract: Gold nanoclusters (phi = 1.3 nm) stabilized by poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) (Au:PVP NCs) readily oxidize benzylic alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes and/or carboxylic acids under ambient temperature in water. Kinetic measurement revealed that smaller Au:PVP NCs exhibit higher catalytic activity than larger (9.5 nm) homologues and, more surprisingly, than Pd:PVP NCs of comparable size (1.5 and 2.2 nm). On the basis of the marked difference in the kinetic isotope effect and activation energy between Au:PVP and Pd:PVP NCs, a reaction mechanism for alcohol oxidation catalyzed by Au:PVP NCs is proposed in which a superoxo-like molecular oxygen species adsorbed on the surface of the small Au NCs abstracts a hydrogen atom from the alkoxide.