A catalytic process for the selective formation of cis olefins would help minimize the production of unhealthy trans fats during the partial hydrogenation of edible oils. Here we report on the design of such a process on the basis of studies with model systems. Temperature programmed desorption data on single crystals showed that the isomerization of trans olefins to their cis counterparts is promoted by (111) facets of platinum, and that such selectivity is reversed on more open surfaces. Quantum mechanics calculations suggested that the extra stability of cis olefins seen on hydrogen-saturated Pt(111) surfaces may be due to a lesser degree of surface reconstruction, a factor found to be significant in the adsorption on close-packed platinum surfaces. Kinetic data using catalysts made out of dispersed tetrahedral Pt nanoparticles corroborated the selective promotion of the trans-to-cis isomerization on the (111) facets of the metal. Our work provides an example for how catalytic selectivity may be controlled by controlling the shape of the catalytic particles.

Colloidal and sol-gel procedures have been used to prepare heterogeneous catalysts consisting of platinum metal particles with narrow size distributions and well defined shapes dispersed on high-surface-area silica supports. The overall procedure was developed in three stages. First, tetrahedral and cubic colloidal metal particles were prepared in solution by using a procedure derived from that reported by El-Sayed and coworkers [Ahmadi TS, Wang ZL, Green TC, Henglein A, El-Sayed MA (1996) Science 272: 1924 -1926]. This method allowed size and shape to be controlled independently. Next, the colloidal particles were dispersed onto high-surface-area solids. Three approaches were attempted: (i) in situ reduction of the colloidal mixture in the presence of the support, (ii) in situ sol-gel synthesis of the support in the presence of the colloidal particles, and (iii) direct impregnation of the particles onto the support. Finally, the resulting catalysts were activated and tested for the promotion of carbon-carbon doublebond cis-trans isomerization reactions in olefins. Our results indicate that the selectivity of the reaction may be controlled by using supported catalysts with appropriate metal particle shapes. On the basis of their kinetic behavior, catalytic reactions are often classified as either mild or demanding (1-3). Demanding reactions-such as the oxidation of CO, NO, or hydrocarbons; the synthesis of ammonia; and most oil processing conversionsusually require high temperatures and pressures, and involve small concentrations of intermediates similar to those identified under vacuum. The performance of these reactions often depends strongly on the structure of the catalyst used (4, 5). In contrast, mild reactions-in particular, hydrogenations and isomerizations of unsaturated hydrocarbons-take place under less-demanding temperature and pressure conditions. Mild reactions have historically been considered structure-insensitive (6-8), but that conclusion has been drawn from studies on reactivity vs. metal dispersion that used ill-defined supported catalysts (9, 10) and has been questioned by more recent studies using better catalytic models (11). For instance, both experimental (12-14) and theoretical (15) studies on the selective catalytic hydrogenation of CAO bonds in unsaturated aldehydes have suggested that such reactions may be promoted by close-packed (111) surfaces. In another example, the dehydrogenation of cyclohexene was found to be faster on Pt (111) than on Pt (100) single-crystal surfaces (16). Our recent surface-science investigations on the isomerization of unsaturated olefins (17-19) strongly suggest that selectivity toward the formation of the cis isomer may be favored by Pt (111) facets. Additional surfacescience reports on the conversion of alkyl and alkene adsorbates under vacuum conditions (20-25), as well as studies with more realistic model systems (26, 27), point to a potential structure sensitivity in the conversion of other olefins and unsaturated hydrocarbons.These results not only s...

Examples from recent studies in our laboratory are presented to illustrate the main tools available to surface scientists for the determination of the kinetics of surface reactions. Emphasis is given here to hydrocarbon conversions and studies that rely on the use of model systems, typically single crystals and controlled (ultrahigh vacuum) environments. A detailed discussion is provided on the use of temperature-programmed desorption for the determination of activation energies as well as for product identification and yield estimations. Isothermal kinetic measurements are addressed next by focusing on studies under vacuum using molecular beams and surface-sensitive spectroscopies. That is followed by a review of the usefulness of high-pressure cells and other reactor designs for the emulation of realistic catalytic conditions. Finally, an analysis of the power of isotope labeling and chemical substitutions in mechanistic research on surface reactions is presented.

The thermal chemistry of 1-methyl-1-cyclopentene (1MCp) and methylene cyclopentane (MeCp) was investigated on clean and hydrogen- and deuterium-predosed Pt(111) single-crystal surfaces by temperature-programmed desorption and reflection−absorption infrared spectroscopy. It was found that MeCp isomerizes easily to 1MCp but that the reverse reaction does not occur, at least under our experimental conditions. The MeCp to 1MCp isomerization is aided by the presence of coadsorbed hydrogen, and occurs through the formation of a common 1-methyl-1-cyclopentyl (1MCp−Pt) surface intermediate; that intermediate then undergoes β-hydride elimination selectively at the ring position to form the 1MCp product. In addition to this isomerization, both 1MCp and MeCp also dehydrogenate on the Pt(111) surface to form a methylcyclopentadiene species, at 325 and 350 K, respectively. A small amount of benzene desorption is detected above 500 K with both reactants, indicative of a ring enlargement reaction. No evidence for the activation of any of the allylic hydrogens was obtained in either molecule.

In the present work, the reduction kinetics of iron molybdate (Fe 2 MoO 4 ) by hydrogen gas was investigated by thermogravimetric analyses (TGA). Both isothermal and nonisothermal experiments were conducted. By using fine particles, very shallow powder bed, and high hydrogen flow rate, the study could be focused on the chemical reaction. The activation energy obtained from the isothermal experiments was found to be 173.5 kJ/mol, which was in reasonable agreement with the value of 158.3 kJ/mol obtained from the nonisothermal experiments. The reduction product was found to be an intermetallic compound, Fe 2 Mo, of microcrystalline structure.