Catalyst Rhodium, Rh

The platinum-group metals (PGMs), which consist of six elements in Groups 8— 10 (VIII) of the Periodic Table, are often found collectively in nature. They are mthenium, Ru rhodium, Rh and palladium, Pd, atomic numbers 44 to 46, and osmium. Os indium, Ir and platinum, Pt, atomic numbers 76 to 78. Corresponding members of each triad have similar properties, eg, palladium and platinum are both ductile metals and form active catalysts. Rhodium and iridium are both characterized by resistance to oxidation and chemical attack (see Platinum-GROUP metals, compounds). 

Alkali moderation of supported precious metal catalysts reduces secondary amine formation and generation of ammonia (18). Ammonia in the reaction medium inhibits Rh, but not Ru precious metal catalyst. More secondary amine results from use of more polar protic solvents, CH OH > C2H5OH > Lithium hydroxide is the most effective alkah promoter (19), reducing secondary amine formation and hydrogenolysis. The general order of catalyst procUvity toward secondary amine formation is Pt > Pd Ru > Rh (20). Rhodium s catalyst support contribution to secondary amine formation decreases ia the order carbon > alumina > barium carbonate > barium sulfate > calcium carbonate. 

Conditions cited for Rh on alumina hydrogenation of MDA are much less severe, 117 °C and 760 kPA (110 psi) (26). With 550 kPa (80 psi) ammonia partial pressure present ia the hydrogenation of twice-distilled MDA employing 2-propanol solvent at 121°C and 1.3 MPa (190 psi) total pressure, the supported Rh catalyst could be extensively reused (27). Medium pressure (3.9 MPa = 566 psi) and temperature (80°C) hydrogenation usiag iridium yields low trans trans isomer MDCHA (28). Improved selectivity to aUcychc diamine from MDA has been claimed (29) for alumina-supported iridium and rhodium by iatroduciag the tertiary amines l,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane [280-57-9] and quiaucHdine [100-76-5]. 

Propane, 1-propanol, and heavy ends (the last are made by aldol condensation) are minor by-products of the hydroformylation step. A number of transition-metal carbonyls (qv), eg, Co, Fe, Ni, Rh, and Ir, have been used to cataly2e the oxo reaction, but cobalt and rhodium are the only economically practical choices. In the United States, Texas Eastman, Union Carbide, and Hoechst Celanese make 1-propanol by oxo technology (11). Texas Eastman, which had used conventional cobalt oxo technology with an HCo(CO)4 catalyst, switched to a phosphine-modified Rh catalyst ia 1989 (11) (see Oxo process). In Europe, 1-propanol is made by Hoechst AG and BASE AG (12). 

N-Acetyl-(R)-phanylalanlna (6). The rhodium catalyst was obtained by adding (-) dlop 5 (from diethyl tartrate) to a benzene solution of [RhCi(cyclooctene)2]2 under Ar, and stirring for tS mn A solution of the Rh catalyst (1 mM in EtOH PhH 4 1) was introduced under Hj to a solution of a-N acetylamino- phenytacrylic acid 4 (molar ratio Rh 4 1.540) The solvent was evaporated, the residue dissolved In 0 5 N NaOH, the catalyst was filtered and the solution acidified and concentrated to dryness to give 6 (81% ee) in 90 95% yield... 

These results are consistent with recently reported results by Haller, et al. (10) on the reactions of CO/H2 and NHj over Rh catalysts In which no significant differences were observed between catalysts reduced at low and high temperatures (presumably "normal and SMSI) but In which Rh/S102 was found to behave differently. Thus, there appears to be some correlation between the FRC chemisorption results and the reactivity patterns of supported rhodium catalysts which we would like to believe supports the assertion that the sites at which hydrogen sorbs reversibly are those at which catalytlcally Important reactions occur, and that FRC can monitor the density and relative kinetics of these sites. 

Diene-ynes 160 undergo an intramolecular [4+2] Diels-Alder reaction in the presence of two different NHC-Rh catalysts (Scheme 5.42) [48], Catalysts 162 [48a] and 163 [48b] were used in small amounts (1 mol% and 2 mol%, respectively) and the products 161 were obtained in excellent yield under mild conditions. Shorter reaction rates were observed when compared with reaction catalysed by phosphine-based rhodium catalysts. 

Except Ru (not usable in TWC because of the volatility of its oxide [68]), the most active metal is the rhodium. This has been largely confirmed by further studies so that Rh may be considered as a key-component of TWC for NO reduction [69,70], As far as Pd is concerned, it seems that the active site is composed of Pd"+ —Pd° pairs, which may explain the higher activity of Pd in N0+C0+02 mixture (T5( 200°C) [71]. A detailed kinetic study by Pande and Bell on Rh catalysts has evidenced a significant support effect [72], The kinetic data were represented by a conventional power law expression ... 

Different reactions pathways on Rh may explain the intermediate formation of ammonia. NH3 can be obtained via successive reaction steps between adsorbed NHX and dissociated hydrogen species [29]. Alternately, the formation of ammonia may occur via the hydrolysis of isocyanic acid (HNCO) [30]. Isocyanate species are formed by reaction between N and COads on metallic particles. Those species can diffuse onto the support leading to spectator species or alternately react with Hads yielding ultimately HNCO. Previous infrared spectroscopic investigations pointed out that isocyanate species predominantly form over rhodium-based catalysts [31]. 

Catalyst deactivation includes (among other reactions) the formation of inactive Rh species, ligand decomposition, or P-C cleavage by direct oxidative insertion of the rhodium metal for formation of PDSPP (propyldi[w-sulfophenyl phosphine) acting as strong electron donor reducing the amount of active Rh catalyst. It turned out to be beneficial to control the Pni/Rh ratio and the CO partial pressure very carefully. 

Eventually, the spent catalyst solution has to leave the oxo loop for work-up. The Ruhrchemie works of Celanese AG in Oberhausen (Germany) operate several rhodium-based oxo processes besides the well-known Ruhrchemie/Rhone-Poulenc process (RCF1/RP, the described low pressure oxo process with TPPTS-modified Rh catalyst), there are the Ruhrchemie process with an unmodified Rh catalyst at high pressure (comparable to the late ICI process [76] this variant is for the benefit of a high iso/n ratio... 

Recent developments in three-way catalyst (TWC) technology may have potential to decrease the amount of rhodium needed in TWC formulations. Current TWC formulations contain platinum (Pt) and rhodium (Rh). The amount of Rh used in the TWCs, that have desired durability, is considerably higher than the mine ratio of Pt/Rh of 17-19. For large scale vehicle application, it is necessary to find ways to minimize the use of this scarce material. Recent findings show that improved net NOx activity, with minimum NH-j formation, is accomplished by the... 

The proposed mechanism (Scheme 54) indicated that transmetallation of the aryl silanediol to the rhodium hydroxide catalyst followed by 1,4-addition and hydrolysis of the O-bound enolate generated the addition product and regenerated the Rh-OH catalyst. 

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