Silver–copper alloys have been proposed as catalysts for ethylene epoxidation due to their superior selectivity compared to pure silver, the predominant catalyst for this reaction. Under reaction conditions it has been previously shown that, rather than a two-dimensional (2D) Ag–Cu alloy, a thin copper oxide-like layer forms on top of silver, and several possible surface structures were identif...

Carbon-carbon bond formation is the basis for the biogenesis of nature's essential molecules. Consequently, it lies at the heart of the chemical sciences. Chiral catalysts have been developed for asymmetric C-C bond formation to yield single enantiomers from several organometallic reagents. Remarkably, for extremely reactive organolithium compounds, which are among the most broadly used reagent...

Studying and controlling reactions at surfaces is of great fundamental and applied interest in, among others, biology, electronics and catalysis. Because reaction kinetics is different at surfaces compared with solution, frequently, solution-characterization techniques cannot be used. Here we report solution gradients, prepared by electrochemical means, for controlling and monitoring reactivity...

A wide variety of spectroscopic methods are now available that provide complimentary insights into the electronic structures of transition-metal complexes. Combined with calculations, these define key bonding interactions, enable the evaluation of reaction coordinates, and determine the origins of unique spectroscopic features/electronic structures that can activate metal centers for catalysis....

We report a general kinetics model for catalytic dioxygen reduction on multicopper oxidase (MCO) cathodes. Our rate equation combines Butler-Volmer (BV) electrode kinetics and the Michaelis-Menten (MM) formalism for enzymatic catalysis, with the BV model accounting for interfacial electron transfer (ET) between the electrode surface and the MCO type 1 copper site. Extending the principles of MM...

Water-miscible organic co-solvents can be used in DNA-based catalytic asymmetric reactions at appreciable concentration without a negative effect on enantioselectivity. While the rate of the copper(II) Diels-Alder reaction is affected negatively by the presence of organic co-solvents, the copper(II) catalyzed Michael addition and Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction are significantly faster. Addi...

A novel and convenient copper (II) bromide and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.1]undec-7-ene (DBU) or 1,10-phenanthroline catalysis protocol for the construction of α-alkyl-β-keto sulfones via C(sp(3))-H bond functionalization followed by C(sp(3))-S bond formation between aryl ketones and sodium sulfinates at room temperature has been developed. This method is applicable to a wide range of aryl ketones an...

Cycloadditions of azides with alkynes to form triazoles under thermal conditions (Huisgen cycloaddition) or in the presence of copper [click reaction, copper-catalyzed azide– alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC)] are reactions of fundamental importance in organic chemistry. Triazoles can also be obtained by means of ruthenium, silver, and iridium catalysis, as well as by a zinc-mediated process. In sha...

Activated oxygen intermediates during copper zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD) catalysis were investigated using an isotope fractionation technique and natural abundance reagents. Competitive oxygen kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) are reported for the enzyme-catalyzed disproportionation of superoxide as well as the stoichiometric reaction of reduced SOD with molecular oxygen. Analysis within the c...

group viii b metal oxides supported on gamma-alumina were investigated as catalysts and promoters of moo3 hydrodesulfurization catalysis. superior promotion was observed in pbo promoted catalyst compared to that of coo, the typically accepted promoter. other metal oxides, sno and ho2o3 exhibited reasonable hydrodesulfurization catalysis promotion but lower than for coo promoted catalyst.