The catalytic oxidation activity of platinum particles in automobile catalysts is thought to originate from the presence of highly reactive superficial oxide phases which form under oxygen-rich reaction conditions. The thermodynamic stability of platinum oxide surfaces and thin films was studied, as well as their reactivities towards oxidation of carbon compounds by means of first-principles atomistic thermodynamics calculations and molecular dynamics simulations based on density functional theory. On the Pt(111) surface the most stable superficial oxide phase is found to be a thin layer of alpha-PtO2, which appears not to be reactive towards either methane dissociation or carbon monoxide oxidation. A PtO-like structure is most stable on the Pt(100) surface at oxygen coverages of one monolayer, while the formation of a coherent and stress-free Pt3O4 film is favoured at higher coverages. Bulk Pt3O4 is found to be thermodynamically stable in a region around 900 K at atmospheric pressure. The computed net driving force for the dissociation of methane on the Pt3O4(100) surface is much larger than on all other metallic and oxide surfaces investigated. Moreover, the enthalpy barrier for the adsorption of CO molecules on oxygen atoms of this surface is as low as 0.34 eV, and desorption of CO2 is observed to occur without any appreciable energy barrier in molecular dynamics simulations. These results, combined, indicate a high catalytic oxidation activity of Pt3O4 phases that can be relevant in the contexts of Pt-based automobile catalysts and gas sensors.

This work has been devoted to the study of phase transformations involving chemical ordering and magnetic properties evolution in bulk Fe-Pt alloys composed of nanometer-sized grains. A comprehensive study of phase transformations and ordering in Fe-Pt alloys is performed by a combination of in-situ neutron powder diffraction and thermal analysis. The dependence of ordering processes on the alloy composition and initial microstructure (homogeneous A1 phase or multilayer-type) is established. Through the use of mechanical alloying and subsequent heat treatment it has been possible to achieve the formation of chemically highly ordered L10 FePt and, in the case of the Fe-rich and Pt-rich compositions, L12 Fe3Pt and FePt3 phases, respectively. Whereas in Pt-rich alloys the decoupling effect of the FePt3 phase leads to coercivity improvement, in Fe-rich nanocomposites a peculiar nanometer scale multilayer structure gives rise to remanence enhancement due to large effects of exchange interactions between the crystallites of the phases. The structure, magnetic properties and magnetisation reversal processes of these alloys are investigated. Experimentally observed phenomena are understood on the basis of a simple two-particle interaction model. Neutron diffraction has also been used for the investigation of the magnetic structure of ordered and partially ordered nanocrystalline Fe-Pt alloys. It has been shown that the magnetic moment of Fe atoms in L10-type Fe Pt alloys is sensitive to the compositional order. The results are compared to density functional calculations.

Im ersten Teil der Arbeit wird die Synthese neopentyl- und neosilylsubstituierter Phosphane zur Verwendung als Liganden in katalytisch aktiven Palladiumkomplexen beschrieben. Die Aktivität wurde in der Suzuki-Miyaura Kreuzkupplungsreaktion getestet. Während die neosilylsubstituierten Phosphane 2:1 Addukte (5b und 5d) mit geeigneten Palladiumsalzen bilden, welche moderate Katalyseaktivität zeigen, untergehen die neopentylsubstituierten Komplexe schnelle Cyclometalierungsreaktionen in Gegenwart von Basen und bilden die katalytisch wenig aktiven Palladacyclen (6a, 6e, and 6g). Die deaktivierende Cylometallierung konnte durch Darstellung der Palladiumcomplexe ausgehend von Pd(cod)Cl2 in Abwesenheit von Basen vermieden werden. Die erhaltenen 2:1 Phosphaneaddukte zeigten deutlich verbesserte Aktivität. Daraus wurde geschlossen, dass die Cyclomettalierung als Nebenreaktion eine wichtige Deaktiverungsmöglichkeit darstellt, diese Überlegung veranlasste uns Trialkylphosphane mittlerer Größe, mit Substituenten die nur schwer eine Cyclometallierungen eingehen können zu testen. Die Verwendung der Phosphoniumsalze 4h (R = Cy, R‘ = neopentyl) und 4m (R = iPr, R‘ = CH2Cy) führt zu höheren Aktivitäten in der Suzuki-Miyaura Kreuzkupplung, als bestes Katalysatorsystem hat sich die Kombination aus Pd2(dba)3 oder Pd(OAc)2 und entsprechendem Phosphoniumsalz ergeben. Im zweiten Teil dieser Arbeit werden Synthesen zu neuen biphenylbasierten Diphosphanen (70, 71, 76, and 77) vorgestellt. Die Palladiumkomplexe wurden ebenfalls auf ihre Eignung als Katalysatoren in palladiumkatalysierten Suzuki-Miyaura Kreuzkupplungen getestet und zeigen für diese Klasse von Komplexen gute Aktivität. Das Tetraphosphan 82 wurde für die Synthese des zweikernigen Palladium(II)-komplex 83 eingesetzt. Durch die Koordination des D2h-symmetrischen Tetraphosphanes an die Palladiumatome wird die Symmetrie des Moleküls erniedrigt und folglich erhält man den formal D2-symmetrischen Komplex 83. / In the first part of this thesis, the synthesis and catalytic activity of neopentyl and neosilyl substituted phosphine palladium complexes is described. The complexes have been tested in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. Whereas the neosilyl substituted phosphines form 2:1 adducts (5b and 5d) with Palladium salts which showed moderate activity, the neopentyl complexes quickly undergo cyclometallation in presence of bases to form Palladacycles (6a, 6e, and 6g) which showed only moderate catalytic activity. Cyclometallation could be avoided by the preparation starting from Pd(cod)Cl2 in the absence of bases. The obtained 2:1 phosphine adducts showed superior activity. We concluded that cyclometallation process is an important deactivation pathway, this prompted us to test trialkyl phosphine ligands with medium size but substituents not reliable to cyclometallation. We have been pleased to find that 4h (R = Cy, R‘ = neopentyl) and 4m (R = iPr, R‘ = CH2Cy) showed good activity in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. The best results have been obtained by in situ preparation of active catalyst from Pd2(dba)3 or Pd(OAc)2 and the appropriate phosphonium salt. In the second part of this thesis, the first synthesis of a new family of biphenyl based bisphosphine ligands (70, 71, 76, and 77) has been reported. Their palladium complexes were successfully tested as catalyst in the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. Within the class of bisphosphine based palladium complexes they show good activity in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. Systematically, was expanded our synthesis strategy and we were able to introduce the first synthesis of a highly symmetric 2,2',6,6'-tetraphosphinobiphenyl. Tetraphosphine 82 was used as ligand in a dinuclear palladium(II) complex 83. Upon complexation the D2h symmetric 2,2’,6,6’-tetraphosphine lead to a chiral D2 symmetric complex 83.

In vorliegender Arbeit wurden Katalysatoren für die heterogen katalysierte Selektivhydrierung von kurzkettigen alpha,beta-ungesättigten Aldehyden, im besonderen Crotonaldehyd, zu den ungesättigten Alkoholen entwickelt und optimiert. Dabei erwiesen sich SMSI-Katalysatoren (Pt/TiO2, Ir/TiO2) und bimetallische Katalysatoren (Pt-Sn/TiO2, Pt-Sn/Al2O3, Pt-Fe/TiO2) als am geeignetsten. Diese Katalysatoren wurden durch Ionenaustausch-, Incipient-Wetness-, Controlled-Surface-Reaction-Methode bzw. Immobilisierung von Pt- und Pt/Sn-Kolloiden als Präparationstechniken hergestellt. Als Einflußgrößen auf die Hydrierung wurden Metallgehalt, Dispersität, Gehalt und Oxidationsstufe des Zweitmetalls, die Titandioxid-Modifikation der Träger sowie das Desaktivierungsverhalten untersucht. Als Charakterisierungsmethoden für die Katalysatoren wurden hauptsächlich ICP-AES, N2-Physisorption, XRD, ESR, HRTEM, H2- und CO-Chemisorption sowie XPS genutzt. Die höchste Ausbeute an Crotylalkohol wurde mit 40% an einem 1,20Pt/TiO2(P*)-Kolloidkatalysator im SMSI-Zustand erreicht.

Im ersten Teil der Arbeit wird die Synthese neopentyl- und neosilylsubstituierter Phosphane zur Verwendung als Liganden in katalytisch aktiven Palladiumkomplexen beschrieben. Die Aktivität wurde in der Suzuki-Miyaura Kreuzkupplungsreaktion getestet. Während die neosilylsubstituierten Phosphane 2:1 Addukte (5b und 5d) mit geeigneten Palladiumsalzen bilden, welche moderate Katalyseaktivität zeigen, untergehen die neopentylsubstituierten Komplexe schnelle Cyclometalierungsreaktionen in Gegenwart von Basen und bilden die katalytisch wenig aktiven Palladacyclen (6a, 6e, and 6g). Die deaktivierende Cylometallierung konnte durch Darstellung der Palladiumcomplexe ausgehend von Pd(cod)Cl2 in Abwesenheit von Basen vermieden werden. Die erhaltenen 2:1 Phosphaneaddukte zeigten deutlich verbesserte Aktivität. Daraus wurde geschlossen, dass die Cyclomettalierung als Nebenreaktion eine wichtige Deaktiverungsmöglichkeit darstellt, diese Überlegung veranlasste uns Trialkylphosphane mittlerer Größe, mit Substituenten die nur schwer eine Cyclometallierungen eingehen können zu testen. Die Verwendung der Phosphoniumsalze 4h (R = Cy, R‘ = neopentyl) und 4m (R = iPr, R‘ = CH2Cy) führt zu höheren Aktivitäten in der Suzuki-Miyaura Kreuzkupplung, als bestes Katalysatorsystem hat sich die Kombination aus Pd2(dba)3 oder Pd(OAc)2 und entsprechendem Phosphoniumsalz ergeben. Im zweiten Teil dieser Arbeit werden Synthesen zu neuen biphenylbasierten Diphosphanen (70, 71, 76, and 77) vorgestellt. Die Palladiumkomplexe wurden ebenfalls auf ihre Eignung als Katalysatoren in palladiumkatalysierten Suzuki-Miyaura Kreuzkupplungen getestet und zeigen für diese Klasse von Komplexen gute Aktivität. Das Tetraphosphan 82 wurde für die Synthese des zweikernigen Palladium(II)-komplex 83 eingesetzt. Durch die Koordination des D2h-symmetrischen Tetraphosphanes an die Palladiumatome wird die Symmetrie des Moleküls erniedrigt und folglich erhält man den formal D2-symmetrischen Komplex 83. / In the first part of this thesis, the synthesis and catalytic activity of neopentyl and neosilyl substituted phosphine palladium complexes is described. The complexes have been tested in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. Whereas the neosilyl substituted phosphines form 2:1 adducts (5b and 5d) with Palladium salts which showed moderate activity, the neopentyl complexes quickly undergo cyclometallation in presence of bases to form Palladacycles (6a, 6e, and 6g) which showed only moderate catalytic activity. Cyclometallation could be avoided by the preparation starting from Pd(cod)Cl2 in the absence of bases. The obtained 2:1 phosphine adducts showed superior activity. We concluded that cyclometallation process is an important deactivation pathway, this prompted us to test trialkyl phosphine ligands with medium size but substituents not reliable to cyclometallation. We have been pleased to find that 4h (R = Cy, R‘ = neopentyl) and 4m (R = iPr, R‘ = CH2Cy) showed good activity in the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. The best results have been obtained by in situ preparation of active catalyst from Pd2(dba)3 or Pd(OAc)2 and the appropriate phosphonium salt. In the second part of this thesis, the first synthesis of a new family of biphenyl based bisphosphine ligands (70, 71, 76, and 77) has been reported. Their palladium complexes were successfully tested as catalyst in the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction. Within the class of bisphosphine based palladium complexes they show good activity in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. Systematically, was expanded our synthesis strategy and we were able to introduce the first synthesis of a highly symmetric 2,2',6,6'-tetraphosphinobiphenyl. Tetraphosphine 82 was used as ligand in a dinuclear palladium(II) complex 83. Upon complexation the D2h symmetric 2,2’,6,6’-tetraphosphine lead to a chiral D2 symmetric complex 83.

The catalytic oxidation activity of platinum particles in automobile catalysts is thought to originate from the presence of highly reactive superficial oxide phases which form under oxygen-rich reaction conditions. The thermodynamic stability of platinum oxide surfaces and thin films was studied, as well as their reactivities towards oxidation of carbon compounds by means of first-principles atomistic thermodynamics calculations and molecular dynamics simulations based on density functional theory. On the Pt(111) surface the most stable superficial oxide phase is found to be a thin layer of alpha-PtO2, which appears not to be reactive towards either methane dissociation or carbon monoxide oxidation. A PtO-like structure is most stable on the Pt(100) surface at oxygen coverages of one monolayer, while the formation of a coherent and stress-free Pt3O4 film is favoured at higher coverages. Bulk Pt3O4 is found to be thermodynamically stable in a region around 900 K at atmospheric pressure. The computed net driving force for the dissociation of methane on the Pt3O4(100) surface is much larger than on all other metallic and oxide surfaces investigated. Moreover, the enthalpy barrier for the adsorption of CO molecules on oxygen atoms of this surface is as low as 0.34 eV, and desorption of CO2 is observed to occur without any appreciable energy barrier in molecular dynamics simulations. These results, combined, indicate a high catalytic oxidation activity of Pt3O4 phases that can be relevant in the contexts of Pt-based automobile catalysts and gas sensors.

This work has been devoted to the study of phase transformations involving chemical ordering and magnetic properties evolution in bulk Fe-Pt alloys composed of nanometer-sized grains. A comprehensive study of phase transformations and ordering in Fe-Pt alloys is performed by a combination of in-situ neutron powder diffraction and thermal analysis. The dependence of ordering processes on the alloy composition and initial microstructure (homogeneous A1 phase or multilayer-type) is established. Through the use of mechanical alloying and subsequent heat treatment it has been possible to achieve the formation of chemically highly ordered L10 FePt and, in the case of the Fe-rich and Pt-rich compositions, L12 Fe3Pt and FePt3 phases, respectively. Whereas in Pt-rich alloys the decoupling effect of the FePt3 phase leads to coercivity improvement, in Fe-rich nanocomposites a peculiar nanometer scale multilayer structure gives rise to remanence enhancement due to large effects of exchange interactions between the crystallites of the phases. The structure, magnetic properties and magnetisation reversal processes of these alloys are investigated. Experimentally observed phenomena are understood on the basis of a simple two-particle interaction model. Neutron diffraction has also been used for the investigation of the magnetic structure of ordered and partially ordered nanocrystalline Fe-Pt alloys. It has been shown that the magnetic moment of Fe atoms in L10-type Fe Pt alloys is sensitive to the compositional order. The results are compared to density functional calculations.

The high temperature adsorption of oxygen and the room temperature adsorption of CO on the Pt3Sn(111) and Pt3Sn(110) surfaces have been investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Beforehand the structure of the clean surfaces has been reviewed. After exposure to several 1000 L O2 at sample temperatures of about 750 K on both Pt3Sn(111) and (110) an ultra-thin Sn-O surface layer is formed. For the (111) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicates that this layer does not yet exhibit oxide properties. STM topographs of the Sn-O phase show on both surfaces meshes of highly corrugated protrusions commensurate with the substrate. In the case of the (111), after additional thermal annealing with STM and LEED a (4 × 4) reconstruction is observed, that is due to a (2 × 2) supermesh of depressions in the p(2 × 2) mesh of protrusions. This structure is similar to findings reported for the oxidation of Sn/Pt(111) surface alloys. X-ray photoelectron diffraction (XPD) measurements in comparison with simulations yield a tentative model for the (111) Sn-O layer. On the Pt3Sn(110) surface after oxygen exposure a c(2 × 2) hexagonal grid of protrusions with regard to the (2 × 1) substrate is observed with STM and LEED. STM reveals the existence of domains due to two equivalent positions of the Sn-O layer relative to the substrate. The domain boundaries zigzag around the [1-10] direction. The Sn-O layer can on both surfaces be removed by thermal annealing to more than 1050 K. After CO adsorption at room temperature on both Pt3Sn(111) and (110) adsorbate structures are observable with the STM. On the (111) two different types of structures are found: ordered patches of protrusions and unordered clusters. These structures are seen only on (√3 × √3)R30° substrate regions, not on p(2 × 2) regions. Surprisingly on the (110) the CO molecules mostly arrange in dimers. For both (111) and (110) saturation coverage is already reached at about 30% of a closed monolayer. The CO can be desorbed by slightly heating the samples to about 400 K. STM topographs show that on both surfaces CO adsorbes in Pt sites, not on Sn. It was possible to observe the CO adsorption on the (110) directly live with the STM. The observed adsorption processes hint to a dimer formation mechanism where a preadsorbed monomer and a CO molecule form the gas phase or a precursor phase stick together. When on partially Sn-O phase covered Pt3Sn(111) and (110) surfaces CO is adsorbed at room temperature, the respective structures coexist. Neither is CO observed on the Sn-O phase nor does a reaction between CO and O occur.

Kern der vorliegenden Arbeit ist die Anwendung quantenchemischer Methoden auf Probleme der elektrochemischen Katalyse vor dem Hintergrund der Sauerstoffreduktion, wie sie an kohlenstoffgeträgerten Platinkatalysatoren abläuft. In diesem Zusammenhang werden die Stabilität des Katalysatorsystems und der Mechanismus der Sauerstoffreduktion untersucht, sowie ein Algorithmus zur Berechnung von Molekülen unter einem gegebenen Potential vorgestellt. Zuerst werden die Wechselwirkungen von Platinnanopartikeln mit polyzyklischen Aromaten als Modellverbindungen des Katalysatormaterials untersucht. Weiterhin wird untersucht, wie Modifikationen des Kohlenstoffträgers und variierende Größe des Platinsystems diese Wechselwirkungen beeinflussen. Weiterhin beschäftigt sich diese Arbeit mit dem Reaktionsmechanismus der Sauerstoffreduktion. Zu diesem Zweck wird das Zersetzungsverhalten von H2O2 als mögliches Intermediat der Sauerstoffreduktion an Platinoberflächen untersucht. Weiterhin wird geprüft, inwieweit dem Elektrolyten hinzugefügte Ionen die Zersetzungsreaktionen beeinflussen. Abschließend werden Rückschlüsse auf den Reaktionspfad der Sauerstoffreduktion gezogen. Zuletzt wird ein theoretischer Ansatz zur Berechnung von Systemen im Rahmen der Dichtefunktionaltheorie vorgestellt, bei dem nicht die Anzahl der Elektronen, sondern das elektrochemische Potential vorgegeben ist und die Elektronenzahl potentialabhängig modifiziert wird. Ebenso wird die Relevanz von Rechnungen mit konstantem Potential demonstriert.

A series of phosphorescent bimetallic platinum(II) complexes is presented, which were synthesized by the combination of bidentate cyclometalated N-heterocyclic carbene ligands and different bridging diphenylformamidinates. The complexes were characterized by standard techniques and additionally two solid-state structures could be obtained. Photoluminescence measurements revealed the strong emissive behavior of the compounds with quantum yields of up to 90 % and emission lifetimes of approx. 2 μs. The effect of the substitution pattern in the bridging ligands on the structural and photophysical properties of the complexes was examined in detail and rationalized by density functional theory calculations (PBE0/6-311G*).