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The mode of coordination of copper(II) ions with dopamine (DA, L) in the binary, as well as ternary systems with Ado, AMP, ADP, and ATP (L′) as second ligands, was studied with the use of experimental—potentiometric and spectroscopic (VIS, EPR, NMR, IR)—methods and computational—molecular modeling and DFT—studies. In the Cu(II)/DA system, depending on the pH value, the active centers of the ligand involved in the coordination with copper(II) ions changed from nitrogen and oxygen atoms (CuH(DA)3+, Cu(DA)2+), via nitrogen atoms (CuH2(DA)24+), to oxygen atoms at strongly alkaline pH (Cu(DA)22+). The introduction of L′ into this system changed the mode of interaction of dopamine from oxygen atoms to the nitrogen atom in the hydroxocomplexes formed at high pH values. In the ternary systems, the ML′-L (non-covalent interaction) and ML′HxL, ML′L, and ML′L(OH)x species were found. In the Cu(II)/DA/AMP or ATP systems, mixed forms were formed up to a pH of around 9.0; above this pH, only Cu(II)/DA complexes occurred. In contrast to systems with AMP and ATP, ternary species with Ado and ADP occurred in the whole pH range at a high concentration, and moreover, binary complexes of Cu(II) ions with dopamine did not form in the detectable concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the nature of interactions between two cyanocarbons—tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) and fumaronitrile (FN)—and a series of four secondary amines possessing a general formula C4HxN (x = 5–11) is thoroughly scrutinized. For all of the TCNE–amine pairs, tricyanovinylation (TCV) reaction is observed; however, only for pyrrole, it is accompanied with a visible charge-transfer (CT) complex formation—no such chemical individuals, characteristic for TCNE, have been noticed for aliphatic and alicyclic amines. On the contrary, FN forms such complexes with all the amines studied. Interestingly, a rather unexpected reaction of FN with alicyclic amines has been observed. The recorded electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra indicate the presence of both TCNE●− and FN●− radicals in the analyzed samples, assigned to a complete charge (electron) transfer process within the CT complexes, whose efficiency can be additionally enhanced by photoirradiation. The origination of the former radical, whose presence is observed also in the TCNE–diethylamine mixture, is as well proposed to result indirectly from the TCV reaction, occurring for this system. Finally, the superhyperfine structure of EPR spectra, indicating the existence of some secondary interactions of the radicals with surrounding compounds, is discussed. Formation of CT complexes and tricyanovinylates has been investigated and characterized with UV–Vis spectroscopy, while the presence of (cyano)radicals in the analyzed mixtures has been evidenced by (photoinduced) EPR measurements. Interpretation of the experimental results is also supplemented with computer simulations including density functional theory calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the factors that affect the reactivity of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in the catalytic oxidation of organic compounds remains an important issue. Of particular significance is tuning the effect of metal‐support interaction toward improving the catalytic performance of Au NPs. The main goal of this study is to provide new insight into the role of the amino‐organosilane (APMS) modifier, used for anchoring of gold species on ZnO support, in controlling the reactivity of Au NPs in H2O2 activation and the subsequent catalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol. This study reveals that APMS modifier weakens the electronic interaction between ZnO and Au NPs, leading to a lower catalase‐like activity toward H2O2 in comparison to that observed for modifier‐free gold catalyst of similar size of nanoparticles. As a result, a slower rate of oxygen evolution resulted in higher activity in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol and enabled more efficient utilization of H2O2 under base‐free conditions. No radical species were formed during the oxidation reaction, and molecular oxygen formed in situ in the reaction medium was the primary oxidant responsible for the catalytic conversion of benzyl alcohol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NH3 temperature‐programmed desorption (NH3‐TPD) is frequently used for probing the nature of the active sites in CuSSZ‐13 zeolite for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx. Herein, we propose an interpretation of NH3‐TPD results, which takes into account the temperature‐induced dynamics of NH3 interaction with the active centers. It is based on a comprehensive DFT/GGA+D and first‐principles thermodynamic (FPT) modeling of NH3 adsorption on single Cu2+, Cu+, [CuOH]+ centers, dimeric [Cu‐O‐Cu]2+, [Cu‐O22−‐Cu]2 species, segregated CuO nanocrystals and Brønsted acid sites (BAS). Theoretical TPD profiles are compared with the experimental data measured for samples of various Si/Al ratios and distribution of Al within the zeolite framework. Copper reduction, its relocation, followed by the intrazeolite olation/oxolation processes, which are concomitant with NH3 desorption, were revealed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and IR. DFT/FPT results show that the peaks in the desorption profiles cannot be assigned univocally to the particular Cu and BAS centers, since the observed low‐, medium‐ and high‐temperature desorption bands have contributions coming from several species, which dynamically change their speciation and redox states during NH3‐TPD experiment. Thus, a rigorous interpretation of the NH3‐TPD profiles of CuSSZ‐13 in terms of the strength and concentration of the active centers of a particular type is problematic. Nonetheless, useful connections for molecular interpretation of TPD profiles can be established between the individual component peaks and the corresponding ensembles of the adsorption centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]