title: Ru(x)Pt(y)Sn(z) cluster-derived nanoparticle catalysts: spectroscopic investigation into the nature of active multinuclear single sites.
abstract: Cluster-derived Ru(x)Pt(y)Sn(z) nanoparticles are active catalysts in the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene. The nature of the active sites has been elucidated by FTIR spectroscopy using CO and NO as probe molecules. A new metal carbonyl cluster precursor, Pt(2)Ru(2)(SnBu(t)(3))(2)(CO)(9)(μ-H)(2), has been synthesized to obtain a Ru(2)Pt(2)Sn(2)/SiO(2) catalyst, that displayed remarkably high levels of conversion and selectivities compared to other bi-and monometallic analogues. Spectroscopic comparisons with Ru(5)PtSn/SiO(2) indicate that both the nature and the stoichiometry of the metals play a key role in modulating the catalytic activities and selectivities. A multinuclear single-site containing Pt centers, which facilitate the hydrogen activation, coupled with a highly reactive Ru site, possibly involved in the nitrobenzene activation, can be hypothesized. The oxophilicity of tin helps with the anchoring of the nanoparticles, aids the dispersion of the other metals, and can play an important role in influencing the selectivity to aniline.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry IFM and NIS-Centre of Excellence, University of Torino, via P. Giuria 7, 10125, Torino, Italy. maela.manzoli@unito.it
authors.forename: Maela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manzoli
authors.forename: Vasudev N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Shetti
authors.forename: Jonathan A L
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Blaine
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Isrow
authors.forename: Veeranna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yempally
authors.forename: Burjor
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Captain
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coluccia
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raja
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gianotti