May 4 2021
熊研究所所示，Kaust的研究人员显示，芳香，通常用于解释某些碳分子的稳定性和异常反应性的概念，可以激发新的用途的新催化剂的设计。
Chemists first came upon the anomalous behavior of aromatic molecules in the nineteenth century while studying benzene. The unexpected stability of this six-carbon cyclic structure comes down to its electrons.
In general, bonding electrons hold a specific pair of atoms together in a discrete chemical bond. But in benzene, six electrons form a delocalized ring across the molecule. A host of other molecules share this feature.“可以在此基础上解释有机和有机金属反应物种的许多经典例子，”Ku-Wei Huang实验室的研究科学家ThéoGonçalves说。"But although the concept is well known, there are limited practical chemical applications of aromaticity,"他补充道。
一个实际应用领域处于催化领域。黄群最近开发出一种典型的催化剂系列，称为PN3（P）钳子复合物。在大多数催化剂中，中央金属离子是所有粘合和制造的地方。在PN3（P）配合物中，金属周围的钳子配体也可以是催化过程中的活性参与者。"Our PN3(P) ligand platform enables catalytic applications beyond conventional systems where metal is the center of reactivity,"黄说。
As the team studied pincer complexes' catalytic behavior, they showed that a six-membered ring structure transiently forms during catalysis and that aromaticity was coming into play."We have provided strong evidence that during the catalytic cycle, our catalysis benefits from the additional energy coming from aromatization of the ring,"Gonçalves says."Tuning the degree of aromatization will gently tune the reaction output."
PN3（P）钳子家族具有高催化性能的反应，例如来自甲酸的选择性氢气用于还原二氧化碳（CO2) and for forming esters and imines. But the real value of the research could be from the new insights it generates into the role of aromaticity in catalysis, and the new horizons that open up as a result."Prior to our work, the importance of the aromaticity was not highlighted in this field,"Gonçalves says."Fundamentally understanding aromatization and dearomatization will allow redesign of catalysts towards better performance and perhaps novel reactivity."
"Our discovery is not about identifying a new or better catalyst for a known reaction, but about opening a new field for unlimited new opportunities in the future,“黄增加了。
来源：https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en