Active sites homogeneous models

In this brief review we illustrated on selected examples how combinatorial computational chemistry based on first principles quantum theory has made tremendous impact on the development of a variety of new materials including catalysts, semiconductors, ceramics, polymers, functional materials, etc. Since the advent of modem computing resources, first principles calculations were employed to clarify the properties of homogeneous catalysts, bulk solids and surfaces, molecular, cluster or periodic models of active sites. Via dynamic mutual interplay between theory and advanced applications both areas profit and develop towards industrial innovations. Thus combinatorial chemistry and modem technology are inevitably intercoimected in the new era opened by entering 21 century and new millennium. 

As the crystal surface exposed to the atmosphere is usually not ideal, specific sites exist with even much lower co-ordination numbers. This is shown schematically in Fig. 3.5, which gives a model comprising so-called step, kink and terrace sites (Morrison, 1982). This analysis suggests that even pure metal surfaces contain a wide variety of active sites, which indeed has been confirmed by surface science studies. Nevertheless, catalytic surfaces often behave rather homogeneously. Later it will be discussed why this is the case. In short, the most active sites deactivate easiest and the poorest active sites do not contribute much to the catalytic activity, leaving the average activity sites to play the major role. 

The Michaelis-Menten equatioa 10.2-9, is developed in Section 10.2.1 from the point of view of homogeneous catalysis and the formation of an intermediate complex. Use the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model of surface catalysis (Chapter 8), applied to the substrate in liquid solution and the enzyme as a colloidal particle with active sites, to obtain the same form of rate law. 

Figure 14.3 Selected examples ofTI-POSS used both as models for the active sites of heterogeneous Ti-based heterogeneous catalysts and as efficient homogeneous catalysts in their own right.

In the case of heterogeneous catalysis, a DCKM or microkinetic model must incorporate the added dimension of adsorbed chemical species as well as active versus non-active sites. To obtain the full predictive capability from reactant influent to product effluent, all possible reactions in the system, both heterogeneous and homogeneous, must be accounted for. To properly understand the catalytic reaction sequence, it is possible that seemingly unimportant intermediates on the surface may be what initiate gas phase reactions. To begin this elucidation, the surface chemical species and their properties must be known. 

The effect of the polymer backbone on the intrinsic chemical reactivity of metal complexes has been studied in aqueous solution and in Nafion (perfluorocarbon sulfonic acid) film 44). Using a model catalyst-substrate system, the independent kinetic effects of reaction site homogeneity, substrate diffusion into the polymer film, and changes on activation parameters have been addressed. The ligand substitution reaction (6), was chosen for this purpose (Py = pyridine and its derivatives). 

An interesting alternative that combines the advantages of both classical and quantum mechanics is to use hybrid QM/MM models, first introduced by Arieh Warshel for modeling enzymatic reactions [7]. Here, the chemical species at the active site are treated using high-level (and therefore expensive) QM models, which are coupled to a force field that describes the reaction environment. Hybrid models can thus take into account solvent effects in homogeneous catalysis, support structure and interface effects in heterogeneous catalysis, and enzyme structure effects in biocatalysis. 

Figure 2.1 Physical (1,2,6,7) and chemical (3-5) steps involved in the following heterogeneously catalysed model reaction A + B —> C. For sake of simplification the surface reaction (4) is supposed to occur between chemisorbed A and nonadsorbed B molecules. 1, Diffusion of A (la) and B (lb) molecules from the homogeneous phase to the external surface of catalyst particle. 2, Diffusion of A (2a) and B (2b) molecules along the pores. 3, Chemisorption of A on the active site. 4, Reaction between chemisorbed A and nonadsorbed B with formation of C chemisorbed on the active site. 5, Desorption of C from the active site. 6, Diffusion of C (6c) out of the pore. 7, Diffusion of C (7c) from the pore mouth to the homogenous phase...

According to most models proposed for polymerisation with vanadium-based homogeneous Ziegier-Natta catalysts such as VCI4—A1R2C1, the active site may involve pentacoordinated three-valent vanadium species with three Cl atoms, the secondary carbon atom of the last monomer unit inserted (predominantly by 2,1 enchainment of the a-olefin) and the coordinating olefin [323-327]. However, a model of the active site that assumes a hexacoordinated V(III) species with four Cl atoms, the carbon atom of the last chain unit and the coordinating olefin has also been proposed [328],... 

It has beeome a quite common procedure to use relatively small models of enzyme active sites and apply quantum ehenueal methods to study their reaction mechatusms. According to this approach, the rest of the enzyme is usually treated using a homogeneous polarizable medium with some assumed dieleetrie eon-... 

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