METHODS OF ACTIVATING METAL COMPLEXES FOR CATALYSTS

摘要

The present invention is directed to the activation of metal carbonyl clusters by an oxidative agent to prepare a stable metal cluster catalyst exhibiting catalytic rate enhancement. The activation comprises, for example, using oxygen for decarbonylation of carbonyl ligands and changing the oxidation state of the other ligands. In one aspect, treatment of the metal cluster catalyst under oxidative conditions in a flow reactor leads to removal of CO ligands and oxidation of bound calixarene phosphine ligands, and results in a stable activated open metal cluster that is more active for ethylene hydrogenation catalysis. The resulting metal cluster contains coordinatively unsaturated sites comprising carbonyl vacancies. In one aspect, the resulting activated open metal cluster can be used as a catalyst in a variety of chemical transformations.