V. Van Speybroeck

A comparative theoretical study on the solvent dependency of anthocyanin extraction profiles

K.T. Phan, E. Van den Broeck, K. Raes, K. De Clerck, V. Van Speybroeck, S. De Meester
Journal of Molecular Liquids
351
2022
A1

Abstract 

Anthocyanidins and anthocyanins are flavonoids with nutritional, antioxidative and color properties that are present in various food products and biomass, such as food waste. The large chemical diversity amongst these molecules potentially leads to different affinities or activities in food and non-food applications. In order to characterize the extraction profile, advanced analytical techniques along with optimized separation procedures are required. Alternatively, theoretical tools can be applied for predicting the solubility or binding affinity of molecules in various reaction media. In this paper, the solubility of anthocyanidins and anthocyanins was analyzed by various theoretical tools such as group contribution methods (e.g., Hansen solubility parameters and Flory-Huggins interaction parameter (χ12)) and molecular modeling (e.g., static calculations based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) and COSMO-RS). It was found that COSMO-RS was able to give quantitative information on the solubility behavior within various pure solvents and it is able to describe the main intermolecular interactions between colorant and solvent, while Hansen solubility parameters were most appropriate to find the most optimal organic solvent-water mixture ratio. In general, solvents with electron-rich aromatic rings and/or containing electron donors, acting as hydrogen bond acceptors, showed the highest solubilizing power for anthocyanidins and anthocyanins.

Gold Open Access

Porous organic polymers as metal free heterogeneous organocatalysts

M. Debruyne, V. Van Speybroeck, P. Van der Voort, C. Stevens
Green Chemistry
Volume 23, Issue 19, Page 7361-7434
2021
A1

Abstract 

Efficient catalysis is essential from a green chemistry perspective. Porous organic polymers (POPs) have recently emerged as highly effective materials for catalytic applications. POPs possess controllable compositions and functionalities, high surface areas and can be very stable. In this review we focus on the application of POPs as metal free heterogeneous organocatalysts, a booming field in green chemistry. Acid, base, combined acid-base and hydrogen bonding catalysis are addressed. In addition, chiral catalysis and CO2 utilization with POPs are discussed. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the field, exploring all different types of POPs as metal free catalysts. Special attention is given to the synthesis conditions to provide the reader with more insight into the construction of these types of materials.

DOI 

10.1039/d1gc02319e

Synthesis of Nitrile-Functionalized Polydentate N-Heterocycles as Building Blocks for Covalent Triazine Frameworks

J. Everaert, M. Debruyne, F. Vandenbussche, K. Van Hecke, T.S.A Heugebaert, P. Van der Voort, V. Van Speybroeck, C. Stevens
Synthesis-Stuttgart
2021
A1

Abstract 

Covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) based on polydentate ligands are highly promising supports to anchor catalytic metal complexes. The modular nature of CTFs allows to tailor the composition, structure, and function to its specific application. Access to a broad range of chelating building blocks is therefore essential. In this respect, we extended the current available set of CTF building blocks with new nitrile-functionalized N-heterocyclic ligands. This paper presents the synthesis of the six ligands which vary in the extent of the aromatic system and the denticity. The new building blocks may help in a rational design of enhanced support materials in catalysis.

Elucidation of the pre-nucleation phase directing metal-organic framework formation

M. Filez, C. Caratelli, M. Rivera-Torrente, F. Muniz-Miranda, M. Hoek, M. Altelaar, A.J.R. Heck, V. Van Speybroeck, B.M. Weckhuysen
Cell Reports Physical Science
2, 12, 100680
2021
A1

Abstract 

Metal-organic framework (MOF) crystallization is governed by molecular assembly processes in the pre-nucleation stage. Yet, unravelling these pre-nucleation pathways and rationalizing their impact on crystal formation poses a great challenge since probing molecular-scale assemblies and macroscopic particles simultaneously is very complex. Herein, we present a multimodal, integrated approach to monitor MOF nucleation across multiple length scales by combining in situ optical spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and molecular simulations. This approach allows tracing initial metal-organic complexes in solution and their assembly into oligomeric nuclei and simultaneously probing particle formation. During Co-ZIF-67 nucleation, a metal-organic pool forms with a variety of complexes caused by ligand exchange and symmetry reduction reactions. We discriminate complexes capable of initiating nucleation from growth species required for oligomerization into frameworks. Co4-nuclei are observed, which grow into particles following autocatalytic kinetics. The geometric and compositional variability of metal-organic pool species clarifies long-debated amorphous zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-particle nucleation and non-classic pathways of MOF crystallization.

DOI 

dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2021.100680

Unexpected formation of 2,2-dichloro-N-(chloromethyl)acetamides during attempted Staudinger 2,2-dichloro-β-lactam synthesis

S. Deketelaere, E. Van den Broeck, L. Cools, D. Deturck, H. Naeyaert, K. Van Hecke, C. Stevens, V. Van Speybroeck, M. D'Hooghe
European Journal of Organic Chemistry
2021, 42, 5823-5830
2021
A1

Abstract 

In the quest for 3,3-dichloro-β-lactam building blocks, the serendipitous formation of 2,2-dichloro-N-(chloromethyl)acetamides was observed. This peculiar reactivity was investigated in detail, both experimentally and computationally by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. 2,2-Dichloro-N-(chloromethyl)acetamides were thus shown to be formed experimentally through reaction of 2,2-dichloroacetyl chloride with glyceraldehyde-derived imines, i. e. (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)methanimines, bearing aromatic N-substituents, in the presence as well as in the absence of a base. Deployment of aliphatic imines, however, resulted in complex reaction mixtures, pointing to the importance of a stabilizing aromatic substituent at nitrogen. The DFT results indicate that the substituents can alter the governing equilibria on the one hand and intrinsic barrier heights for the different routes on the other hand, showing that these are controlling the reaction outcome. Furthermore, the 2,2-dichloro-N-(chloromethyl)acetamides proved to be rather unstable in solution and thus difficult to isolate. Nonetheless, their molecular structure was confirmed by means of NMR analysis of several purified analogs and X-ray study of a 4-methoxyphenyl derivative.

Mobility and Reactivity of Cu+ Species in Cu-CHA Catalysts under NH3-SCR-NOx Reaction Conditions: Insights from AIMD Simulations

R. Millan, P. Cnudde, V. Van Speybroeck, M. Boronat
JACS Au (Journal of the American Chemical Society)
1 (10), 1778–1787
2021
A1

Abstract 

The mobility of the copper cations acting as active sites for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia in Cu-CHA catalysts varies with temperature and feed composition. Herein, the migration of [Cu(NH3)2]+ complexes between two adjacent cavities of the chabazite structure, including other reactant molecules (NO, O2, H2O, and NH3), in the initial and final cavities is investigated using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations combined with enhanced sampling techniques to describe hopping events from one cage to the other. We find that such diffusion is only significantly hindered by the presence of excess NH3 or NO in the initial cavity, since both reactants form with [Cu(NH3)2]+ stable intermediates which are too bulky to cross the 8-ring windows connecting the cavities. The presence of O2 modifies strongly the interaction of NO with Cu+. At low temperatures, we observe NO detachment from Cu+ and increased mobility of the [Cu(NH3)2]+ complex, while at high temperatures, NO reacts spontaneously with O2 to form NO2. The present simulations give evidence for recent experimental observations, namely, an NH3 inhibition effect on the SCR reaction at low temperatures, and transport limitations of NO and NH3 at high temperatures. Our first principle simulations mimicking operating conditions support the existence of two different reaction mechanisms operating at low and high temperatures, the former involving dimeric Cu(NH3)2-O2-Cu(NH3)2 species and the latter occurring by direct NO oxidation to NO2 in one single cavity.

Gold Open Access

Interfacial study of clathrates confined in reversed silica pores

P. M. Mileo, S.M.J. Rogge, M. Houlleberghs, E. Breynaert, J.A. Martens, V. Van Speybroeck
Journal of Materials Chemistry A
9(38), 21835-21844
2021
A1

Abstract 

Storing methane in clathrates is one of the most promising alternatives for transporting natural gas (NG) as it offers similar gas densities to liquefied and compressed NG while offering lower safety risks. However, the practical use of clathrates is limited given the extremely low temperatures and high pressures necessary to form these structures. Therefore, it has been suggested to confine clathrates in nanoporous materials, as this can facilitate clathrate's formation conditions while preserving its CH4 volumetric storage. Yet, the choice of nanoporous materials to be employed as the clathrate growing platform is still rather arbitrary. Herein, we tackle this challenge in a systematic way by computationally exploring the stability of clathrates confined in alkyl-grafted silica materials with different pore sizes, ligand densities and ligand types. Based on our findings, we are able to propose key design criteria for nanoporous materials favoring the stability of a neighbouring clathrate phase, namely large pore sizes, high ligand densities, and smooth pore walls. We hope that the atomistic insight provided in this work will guide and facilitate the development of new nanomaterials designed to promote the formation of clathrates.

Gold Open Access

Large-Scale Molecular Dynamics Simulations Reveal New Insights Into the Phase Transition Mechanisms in MIL-53(Al)

S. Vandenhaute, S.M.J. Rogge, V. Van Speybroeck
Frontiers in Chemistry
9, 718920
2021
A1

Abstract 

Soft porous crystals have the ability to undergo large structural transformations upon exposure to external stimuli while maintaining their long-range structural order, and the size of the crystal plays an important role in this flexible behavior. Computational modeling has the potential to unravel mechanistic details of these phase transitions, provided that the models are representative for experimental crystal sizes and allow for spatially disordered phenomena to occur. Here, we take a major step forward and enable simulations of metal-organic frameworks containing more than a million atoms. This is achieved by exploiting the massive parallelism of state-of-the-art GPUs using the OpenMM software package, for which we developed a new pressure control algorithm that allows for fully anisotropic unit cell fluctuations. As a proof of concept, we study the transition mechanism in MIL-53(Al) under various external pressures. In the lower pressure regime, a layer-by-layer mechanism is observed, while at higher pressures, the transition is initiated at discrete nucleation points and temporarily induces various domains in both the open and closed pore phases. The presented workflow opens the possibility to deduce transition mechanism diagrams for soft porous crystals in terms of the crystal size and the strength of the external stimulus.

Gold Open Access

Reductive imino-pinacol coupling reaction of halogenated aromatic imines and iminium ions catalyzed by precious metal catalysts using hydrogen

K.N.R. Dumoleijn, E. Van den Broeck, J. Stavinoha, V. Van Speybroeck, K. Moonen, C.V. Stevens
Journal of Catalysis
400, 103-113
2021
A1

Abstract 

The first heterogeneously catalyzed process for the reductive coupling of imines and iminium ions is reported using precious metal catalysts in combination with hydrogen gas as the terminal reductant. The optimized method in terms of catalyst composition and reaction conditions allowed to produce aromatic vicinal diamines without the use of stoichiometric amounts of zero or low valent metals, which is currently the preferred method. The most important mechanistic features of the reaction were unraveled by a combined experimental and computational approach. The developed methodology is very efficient for the coupling of aromatic iminium ions with yields up to 88 % while imines give only low to moderate yields.

Gold Open Access

Hydrogen Clathrates: Next Generation Hydrogen Storage Materials

A. Gupta, G.V. Baron, P. Perreault, S. Lenaerts, R.-G. Ciocarlan, P. Cool, P. M. Mileo, S.M.J. Rogge, V. Van Speybroeck, G. Watson, P. Van der Voort, M. Houlleberghs, E. Breynaert, J.A. Martens, J.F.M. Denayer
Energy Storage Materials
41, 69-107
2021
A1

Abstract 

Extensive research has been carried on the molecular adsorption in high surface area materials such as carbonaceous materials and MOFs as well as atomic bonded hydrogen in metals and alloys. Clathrates stand among the ones to be recently suggested for hydrogen storage. Although, the simulations predict lower capacity than the expected by the DOE norms, the additional benefits of clathrates such as low production and operational cost, fully reversible reaction, environmentally benign nature, low risk of flammability make them one of the most promising materials to be explored in the next decade. The inherent ability to tailor the properties of clathrates using techniques such as addition of promoter molecules, use of porous supports and formation of novel reverse micelles morphology provide immense scope customisation and growth. As rapidly evolving materials, clathrates promise to get as close as possible in the search of “holy grail” of hydrogen storage. This review aims to provide the audience with the background of the current developments in the solid-state hydrogen storage materials, with a special focus on the hydrogen clathrates. The in-depth analysis of the hydrogen clathrates will be provided beginning from their discovery, various additives utilised to enhance their thermodynamic and kinetic properties, challenges in the characterisation of hydrogen in clathrates, theoretical developments to justify the experimental findings and the upscaling opportunities presented by this system. The review will present state of the art in the field and also provide a global picture for the path forward.

Gold Open Access

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