Loading…

Electronic Structure of the [Cu3(μ-O)3]2+ Cluster in Mordenite Zeolite and Its Effects on the Methane to Methanol Oxidation

Identifying Cu-exchanged zeolites able to activate C–H bonds and selectively convert methane to methanol is a challenge in the field of biomimetic heterogeneous catalysis. Recent experiments point to the importance of trinuclear [Cu3(μ-O)3]2+ complexes inside the micropores of mordenite (MOR) zeolit...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of physical chemistry. C 2017-10, Vol.121 (40), p.22295-22302
Main Authors: Vogiatzis, Konstantinos D, Li, Guanna, Hensen, Emiel J. M, Gagliardi, Laura, Pidko, Evgeny A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Identifying Cu-exchanged zeolites able to activate C–H bonds and selectively convert methane to methanol is a challenge in the field of biomimetic heterogeneous catalysis. Recent experiments point to the importance of trinuclear [Cu3(μ-O)3]2+ complexes inside the micropores of mordenite (MOR) zeolite for selective oxo-functionalization of methane. The electronic structures of these species, namely, the oxidation state of Cu ions and the reactive character of the oxygen centers, are not yet fully understood. In this study, we performed a detailed analysis of the electronic structure of the [Cu3(μ-O)3]2+ site using multiconfigurational wave-function-based methods and density functional theory. The calculations reveal that all Cu sites in the cluster are predominantly present in the Cu­(II) formal oxidation state with a minor contribution from Cu­(III), whereas two out of three oxygen anions possess a radical character. These electronic properties, along with the high accessibility of the out-of-plane oxygen center, make this oxygen the preferred site for the homolytic C–H activation of methane by [Cu3(μ-O)3]2+. These new insights aid in the construction of a theoretical framework for the design of novel catalysts for oxyfunctionalization of natural gas and suggest further spectroscopic examination.
ISSN:1932-7447
1932-7455
DOI:10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b08714