Bimetallic catalysts reaction enhancement mechanisms

At present, there is a general consensus that PtRu offers the most promising results, and has been the benchmark bimetallic catalyst since the mid-1960s. The reason for the enhanced rate of methanol oxidation on PtRu is often invoked by the bifunctional mechanism (see Section 9.3.1), where the first step of the reaction is adsorption of methanol ... 

Abstract Bimetallic catalysts are capable of activating alkynes to undergo a diverse array of reactions. The unique electronic structure of alkynes enables them to coordinate to two metals in a variety of different arrangements. A number of well-characterised bimetallic complexes have been discovered that utilise the versatile coordination modes of alkynes to enhance the rate of a bimetallic catalysed process. Yet, for many other bimetallic catalyst systems, which have achieved incredible improvements to a reactions rate and selectivity, the mechanism of alkyne activation remains unknown. This chapter summarises the many different approaches that bimetallic catalysts may be utilised to achieve cooperative activation of the alkyne triple bond. 

Abstract Direct formic acid fuel cells offer an alternative power source for portable power devices. They are currently limited by unsustainable anode catalyst activity, due to accumulation of reaction intermediate surface poisons. Advanced electrocatalysts are sought to exclusively promote the direct dehydrogenation pathway. Combination and structure of bimetallic catalysts have been found to enhance the direct pathway by either an electronic or steric mechanism that promotes formic acid adsorption to the catalyst surface in the CH-down orientation. Catalyst supports have been shown to favorably impact activity through either enhanced dispersion, electronic, or atomic structure effects. 

Maruoka has reported that chiral bimetallic Lewis acid catalysts 9-11, prepared from (S)-BINOL, M(0-i -Pr)4 (M=Ti, Zr, Hf), and the corresponding spacer, strongly enhance the reactivity of aldehydes or ketones toward allyl transfer from allylstannanes [18-20]. For example, treatment of acetophenone (42) with tetraallyltin (41) in the presence of 30 mol% of the chiral bidentate Ti(IV) catalyst 10 provided the (S)-enriched homoallylic alcohol 43 in 95% yield with 90% ee (Scheme 2) [19]. A suggested reaction mechanism involves double activation of carbonyls owing to the simultaneous coordination of two Ti atoms to a carbonyl oxygen atom. 

Cycloaddition with Azides, Alkynes, Alkenes and Allenes. The copper-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloadditiOTi reaction is typically catalysed by simple, monometallic Cu(I) salts. However, the mechanism of catalysis was recently determined to involve a bimetalhc process. Similar bimetallic mechanisms have also been discovered in the cycloaddition of alkynes with alkenes, allenes and other alkynes using Au catalysts. This reaction is discussed for its broad application to many areas of chemistry and for the potential of bimetalhc catalyst design to enhance the reaction. 

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