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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Computational Design And Analysis Of Molecular Ethylene Oligomerization Catalysts, Doo Hyun Kwon
Computational Design And Analysis Of Molecular Ethylene Oligomerization Catalysts, Doo Hyun Kwon
Theses and Dissertations
Linear alpha olefins (LAOs) are key petrochemical precursors for the synthesis of larger polymers, detergents, plasticizers, and lubricants. Most catalytic ethylene oligomerization processes generate a wide distribution of LAO carbon chain lengths. A major ongoing industrial challenge is to develop homogeneous catalysts that result in selective and tunable ethylene oligomerization to 1-hexene and 1-octene alkenes. Quantum mechanical calculations coupled with rapidly advancing technology have enabled the ability to calculate small molecule systems with high accuracy. Employing computational models to advance from empirical to quantitative prediction of product selectivities has become an active area of exploration. In this work, we demonstrate …
Computational Studies On Mechanisms And Reactivity Of Mercury And Cobalt Organometallic Reactions, Jack Terrell Fuller
Computational Studies On Mechanisms And Reactivity Of Mercury And Cobalt Organometallic Reactions, Jack Terrell Fuller
Theses and Dissertations
Density Functional Theory (DFT) is a powerful tool for treating large organometallic structures efficiently and accurately. DFT calculations on the Hg-catalyzed oxidation of methane to methyl bisulfate in sulfuric acid suggest the lowest energy pathway involves a closed-shell electrophilic C–H activation mechanism coupled with metal alkyl reductive functionalization and oxidation by SO3. Comparison to Tl, Zn, and Cd suggests that Hg is unique in its ability to catalyze this set of reaction steps. Comparison to K2S2O8 highlights the selectivity of this C–H activation reaction as opposed to radical conditions. In contrast, DFT calculations indicate that CoIII(TFA)3 oxidizes methane through a …