La production de polyéthylène par la polymérisation de l'éthylène est un procédé industriel de grande importance. L'éthylène, issue de la pétrochimie contient des impuretés d'acétylène (1%), ce qui empoisonne le catalyseur de polymérisation, et donc le besoin d'un catalyseur qui soit sélectif pour hydrogéner l'acétylène en éthylène. Le composé intermétallique Al13Fe4 a été développé par Armbuster et al. en 2012 comme un catalyseur actif et sélectif pour la semi-hydrogénation de l'acétylène pour la production de polyéthylène. Il présente une structure cristalline avec des distances interatomiques Fe-Fe élevées et un faible nombre de coordination des atomes de fer, qui tombe sous le concept de "site isolation principle". Ce composé est également intéressant en raison de son faible coût (sans métaux nobles par rapport à Pd /Al2O3 catalyseurs industriels) et une faible toxicité. Cependant, il a été produit sous la forme de poudre non supportée par la méthode Czochralski ce qui limite son utilisation dans le domaine du génie catalytique. Dans ce contexte, supporter le catalyseur présente de nombreux avantages comme la facilité de séparation du catalyseur hétérogène à partir du mélange réactionnel obtenue par une variété de procédés telle que la filtration par exemple. Un autre avantage des catalyseurs supportés est la plus grande surface exposée du catalyseur ou dispersion. Etant donné que la catalyse est une réaction de surface, maximiser la surface d'un catalyseur, en le dispersant sur le support améliorera / optimisera l'activité catalytique. Les procédés de "chimie douce" dénommés Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) et Metal Organic Deposition (MOD) sont réputés pour être efficaces et économiquement compétitifs pour déposer des nanoparticules ou des films minces, à partir de précurseurs moléculaires appropriés. Notre travail vise donc à développer Al13Fe4 sous forme de films ou de nanoparticules supportées par MOCVD. La première étape pour atteindre cet objectif est le développement des précurseurs moléculaires d'aluminium métallique et de fer, dans des conditions compatibles suivies par codépôt ou dépôt séquentiel des deux précurseurs de Fe et Al pour former le composé intermétallique dans la bonne stœchiométrie. Parmi les nombreux précurseurs d'Al, le diméthyl ethylaminealane (DMEAA, [AlH3(NMe2Et)]) est utilisé en raison de sa pression de vapeur importante et des températures de dépôt faibles. En outre, l'absence de liaisons Al-O et Al-C conduit à la production de films sans impuretés carbone et oxygène. Cependant, des précurseurs moléculaires de fer pour le dépôt pour MOCVD de films de fer purs sont rares et moins développés. En dehors du pentacarbonyle de fer qui produit des films de fer pur, amidinates et guanidinates sont utilisés comme précurseurs de fer. Cependant, l'oxygène et des carbures sont présents dans des pourcentages élevés. Ainsi, l'objectif principal de ce travail de thèse est de concevoir et de synthétiser de nouveaux complexes moléculaires de fer qui servent de précurseurs pour la MOCVD. Dans ce travail, des nanoparticules de composé intermétallique Al13Fe4 sont préparées par réduction en solution et des films par dépôt séquentiel MOCVD en utilisant DMEAA et Fe(CO)5 en tant que précurseurs moléculaires. Les propriétés catalytiques ont été étudiées et ont montré d'une activité très peu active dans la réaction d'hydrogénation de l'acétylène: moins de 1% avant de se désactiver rapidement. La régénération sous hydrogène ou sous oxygène n'a qu'une faible restauration de l'activité. Les tests catalytiques ont été encore étendus à Al13Fe4 poudre préparée par réduction en solution ainsi que Al13Fe4 en poudre commerciale et a constaté que Al13Fe4 était non catalytiquement actif sous toutes ses formes (dans nos conditions de réaction) / Polyethylene production from the polymerization of ethylene is an industrial process of great importance. Ethylene stream for the polymerization of polyethylene is produced by the steam cracking of a wide range of hydrocarbon feedstock and usually contains acetylene impurities (1%) which poison the polymerization catalyst. The ethylene steam has to be purified by the selective semi-hydrogenation of acetylene which requires a catalyst with high selectivity to hydrogenate acetylene to ethylene. The intermetallic compound Al13Fe4 was introduced in 2012 by Armbuster et al. as an active and selective catalyst for the semi-hydrogenation of acetylene for polyethylene production. It has a crystal structure with high average inter-atomic distances Fe-Fe and a low coordination number of iron atoms, which falls under the concept of "site isolation principle". This compound is also attractive because of its low cost (without any noble metals compared to Pd/Al2O3 industrial catalysts) and low toxicity. However, it has been produced in the form of unsupported powder by the Czochralski method which limits its use in catalytic engineering. In this context, supporting the catalyst presents many advantages as the ease of separation of the heterogeneous catalyst from the reaction mixture. In contrast to homogeneous catalysts in which separation is often costly and difficult, separating the supported heterogeneous catalyst can be achieved by a variety of methods such as filtration for example. Another advantage of supported catalysts is the higher surface area of the catalyst. Since catalysis is a surface reaction, consequently, maximizing the surface area of a catalyst by distributing it over the support will enhance/optimize the catalytic activity.Chemical synthetic routes such as Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) and Metal Organic Deposition (MOD) referred as “Chimie douce” process are reputed to be flexible and economically competitive methods to prepare nanoparticles or thin films. Our work is thus aimed at developing Al13Fe4 as supported films or nanoparticles by MOCVD and/or MOD. The first step to meet our objective is the development of compatible molecular precursors of metallic aluminum and iron followed by MOCVD or MOD of those precursors to form the intermetallic compound in the good stoichiometry. Among the numerous aluminum MOCVD precursors used in the literature, dimethyl ethylamine alane (DMEAA, [AlH3(NMe2Et)]) is used due to its properties such as high vapor pressure and low deposition temperatures. Moreover, the absence of Al-O and Al-C bonds leads to the production of carbon and oxygen free films. However, iron molecular precursors for the MOCVD of pure iron films are scarce and less developed. Apart from iron pentacarbonyl that produces pure iron films, amidinates and guanidinates are used as iron precursors. However, oxygen and carbides impurities are present in high percentages. Thus the main objective of this Ph-D work is to design and synthesize novel and original iron molecular complexes that serve as precursors for the low temperature MOCVD of iron films. In this Ph-D work, nanoparticles of the intermetallic complex were prepared via solution reduction of novel Fe triazenide precursors and Al metal. Supported films were also prepared via sequential MOCVD by using DMEAA and Fe(CO)5 as molecular precursors. Its catalytic properties have been explored and showed that it is very little active in the hydrogenation reaction of acetylene. Regeneration under hydrogen or oxygen was not very successful and only some activity restored. The catalytic tests have been further extended to Al13Fe4 powder prepared by solution reduction as well as to commercial Al13Fe4 and found that Al13Fe4 was inactive catalytically in all forms (in our conditions of reactions)

Metal-organic framework (MOF) compounds as a new class of porous coordination polymers consists of metal ions or clusters linked by organic molecules. They have gained recent interest because of their large surface areas and huge variety of the porous network structures. They exhibit interesting adsorption properties and therefore are potential candidates for various technical applications. In this work, continuous wave (cw) and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) methods such as pulsed electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and hyperfine sublevel correlation (HYSCORE) spectroscopy are applied to study metal-organic frameworks with respect to different aspects of their properties: The host-guest interactions between Cu2+ ions in [Cu3(btc)2]n (HKUST-1; btc: 1,3,5-benzenetricaboxylate) with adsorbed methanol (CH3OH), 13C enriched carbon monoxide and dioxide (13CO, 13CO2), hydrogen (H2), deuterium (D2) and mixed isotopic HD. In [Cu3(btc)2]n, the Cu2+ ions are connected to binuclear Cu/Cu paddle wheel units. Since the Cu2+ ions in the [Cu3(btc)2]n are antiferromagnetically coupled, the new compound [Cu2.97Zn0.03(btc)2]n is synthesized by isomorphous substitution containing about 1 % paramagnetic Cu/Zn paddle wheel units. The modified Cu/Zn paddle wheel units prove to be a very sensitive probe for the interactions with the adsorbed molecules. Secondly, the exchange interactions of antiferromagnetically coupled Cu/Cu paddle wheel units as well as additional inter-paddle wheel exchange interactions between the Cu/Cu pairs are studied in [Cu2(bdc)2(dabco)]n, a layered MOF with 1,4-benzenedicaboxylate (bdc) as linker and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (dabco) acting as pillars between the layers. In comparison to [Cu3(btc)2]n, the additional inter-paddle wheel exchange interactions are much easier disturbed by incorporation of Zn2+ ions into the framework structure. Third, the structural dynamics of the framework is investigated in the compound [Al(OH)(bdc)]n (MIL-53) which was isomorphously substituted by V(III)/V(IV) species. The 51V hyperfine structure revealed to be sensitive to the so-called breathing effect, a flexible structural behaviour upon guest adsorption/desorption or upon thermal treatment. It is shown that the aluminum ions can be substituted by vanadium but the octahedral coordination environment changes slightly to a pseudo-octahedral or a square-pyramidal coordination. Based on the hyperfine interactions between the electron spin and the nuclear spins of the surrounding atoms, structural models can be derived from orientation-selective measurements. In such a way, structural information of materials like powder samples and adsorbate complexes can be obtained which are hardly or even not accessible by other methods.:1 Introduction 1.1 Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy for investigation of porous materials 1.2 Metal-organic frameworks 1.3 Implementation of paramagnetism by isomorphous substitution 1.4 EPR spectroscopic methods 1.4.1 Spin Hamiltonian 1.4.2 cw EPR spectroscopy 1.4.3 Pulsed EPR spectroscopy 1.5 Description of the project 2 [Cu2.97Zn0.03(btc)2]n 2.1 Introduction: Monometallic [Cu3(btc)2]n (1) 2.1.1 Spin coupling 2.1.2 Adsorption of H2O 2.1.3 Adsorption of DTBN 2.2 Isomorphous substitution of Cu2+ by Zn2+ in [Cu3(btc)2]n 2.2.1 Synthesis and characterisation of [Cu2.97Zn0.03(btc)2]n (2) 2.2.2 cw EPR spectroscopy of 2 2.2.3 Pulsed EPR spectroscopy of 2 2.2.4 Summary: Zn2+ substitution 2.3 Adsorption of methanol (MeOH) on [Cu2.97Zn0.03(btc)2]n (2_MeOH) 2.3.1 cw EPR spectroscopy of 2_MeOH 2.3.2 Pulsed EPR spectroscopy of 2_MeOH 2.3.3 Discussion 2.3.4 Summary: adsorption of MeOH 2.4 Adsorption of 13CO2 and 13CO on [Cu2.97Zn0.03(btc)2]n (2_CO2, 2_CO) 2.4.1 cw EPR spectroscopy of 2_CO2 and 2_CO 2.4.2 Pulsed EPR spectroscopy of 2_CO2 and 2_CO 2.4.3 Discussion 2.4.4 Summary: adsorption of 13CO2 and 13CO 2.5 Adsorption of H2, D2 and HD on [Cu2.97Zn0.03(btc)2]n (2_HH, 2_DD and 2_HD) 2.5.1 cw EPR spectroscopy of 2_HH, 2_DD and 2_HD 2.5.2 Pulsed EPR spectroscopy of 2_HH, 2_DD and 2_HD 2.5.2.1 3p ESEEM spectroscopy of 2_HH, 2_DD and 2_HD 2.5.2.2 Davies-ENDOR spectroscopy of 2_HH 2.5.2.3 Davies-ENDOR spectroscopy of 2_HD 2.5.2.4 Davies-ENDOR spectroscopy of 2_DD 2.5.3 Discussion 2.5.4 Summary: adsorption of H2, D2 and HD 2.6 Conclusion: [Cu2.97Zn0.03(btc)2]n 3 [Cu2(bdc)2(dabco)]n (3) and [Cu(2-x)Zn(x)(bdc)2(dabco)]n (3_x) 3.1 [Cu2(bdc)2(dabco)]n (3) 3.2 [Cu1.9Zn0.1(bdc)2(dabco)]n (3_0.1) 3.3 [Cu(2-x)Zn(x)(bdc)2(dabco)]n (3_0.5, 3_1.0, 3_1.5 and 3_1.9) 3.4 Determination of the exchange coupling constant J 3.5 Discussion 3.6 Conclusions: [Cu(2-x)Zn(x)(bdc)2(dabco)]n (3_x) 4 [(AlOH)1-x(VO)x(bdc)]n (4) and [(AlOH)1-x(VO)x(ndc)]n (5) 4.1 Introduction 4.2 EPR spectroscopic investigations of mixed-metal bdc compounds 4.3 EPR spectroscopic investigations of mixed-metal ndc compounds 4.4: Conclucions: V(III)/V(IV) substitution in [Al(OH)(bdc)]n and [Al(OH)(ndc)]n 5 Summary and Conclusion 5.1 Host-guest interactions 5.2 Exchange couplings of Cu/Cu pairs 5.3 Structural dynamics of the bdc and the ndc framework 5.4 Conclusion 6 Appendix 6.1 Experimental details and additional spectra 6.2 Instrumental details 6.3 Curriculum vitae and publications

Différents matériaux hybrides à base de polyoxométallates (POMs) ont été synthétisés au cours de cette thèse. Dans un premier type de matériaux, appelé POM@MOF, des POMs sont incorporés au sein des cavités poreuses d'un Metal-Organic-Framework (MOF). Ces matériaux ont été synthétisés par une méthode d'imprégnation en milieu aqueux ou par synthèse directe en conditions solvothermales. Ils ont ensuite été caractérisés de manière approfondie. La stabilité ou l'évolution des polyoxométallates lors de l'incorporation dans le MOF étant chaque fois parfaitement établie. Les matériaux POM@MOFs ont ensuite été étudiés pour leurs applications en magnétisme, pour la détection et en catalyse. Dans un second temps, des polymère de coordination hybrides à base de POMs (surnomés POMOFs) construits à partir d'isomères ε-Keggin reliés par des ligands organiques ont été synthétisés par voie hydrothermale. De nouvelles structures POMOFs ont pu être obtenue en présence de POMs, de ligands carboxylates et de complexes métalliques comme contre-ions non-innocents. L'activité de ces matériaux vis-à-vis de la réduction des protons a été étudiée par électrocatalyse et photocatalyse. Parallèlement, des synthèses de composés moléculaires solubles à base de POMs ε-Keggin ont également été réalisées. Finalement, des espèces hybrides incorporant des métaux de transitions et des ligands bisphosphonates ont été synthétisées : des polymères incorporant du cuivre(II) et un composé moléculaire à base fer(III). Ces espèces ont ensuite été étudiées pour leurs propriétés magnétiques, catalytiques pour la réduction des NOx. L'espèce à base de fer a également été sélectionnée comme substrat pour des études de dépôt sur surface de silice. / Different Polyoxometalate (POM) based hybrid materials were synthesised during this doctorate. In the first type of materials, called POM@MOF, POMs are incorporated in the porous cavities of a Metal-Organic-Framework (MOF). These materials were synthesised by a impregnation method in an aqueous medium or by direct synthesis in solvothermal conditions. They were then extensively characterised. For every material, the stability or transformation of the POMs during the incorporation was accurately established. The POM@MOFs materials were then studied for their applications in magnetism, for detection and in catalysis. In a second time, POM-based hybrid coordination polymers (called POMOFs) made from ε-Keggin isomers connected by organic linkers were synthesised by a hydrothermal method. New POMOFs structures have been obtained with POMs, carboxylate linkers and metallic complexes as non-innocents counter ions. The catalytic activity of these materials toward protons reduction was studied by electrocatalysis and photocatalysis. In parallel, syntheses of soluble molecular compounds based on ε-Keggin POMs were also performed. Finally, hybrid species incorporating transition metals and bisphosphonate linkers were synthesised : three copper(II) based polymers and a molecular coumpound incorporating iron(III). The magnetic and catalytic (reduction of NOx) properties of these materials were then studied. The iron based species was also selected as substrate for the deposition on a silica surface.

Les Membranes à Matrices Mixtes (MMM’s) sont des matériaux prometteurs pour la capture de CO2 en comparaison aux technologies actuelles telles que l’absorption par solvants aminés (monoéthanolamine). Les ‘Metal-Organic Frameworks’ (MOFs) sont des matériaux poreux cristallins envisagés pour être intégrés sous forme de nanoparticules aux polymères des MMM’s. Ils résultent de la combinaison de nœuds métalliques et de ligands organiques pour former des structures tridimensionnelle (3D) organisées. Ils possèdent divers avantages : des aires spécifiques et des volumes poreux élevés, des tailles de pores contrôlables, et pour certains une stabilité à l’eau. Les MOFs ont une chimie adaptable aux applications souhaitées contrairement aux adsorbants classiques tels que les charbons actifs, les zéolithes.D’une part, ce travail a eu pour objectif l’évaluation des performances de séparation du CO2 par des MOFs microporeux en vue des séparations CO2/N2 et CO2/CH4. Les interactions ‘gaz-adsorbant’ sont favorisées au sein des MOFs par : (1) une réduction de la taille de pores et du volume poreux pouvant engendrer des effets de confinements, de tamis moléculaire ou (2) par la présence de groupements de surface. En conséquence, ces paramètres peuvent contribuer à l’amélioration de la sélectivité du CO2 et ont été étudiés pour divers systèmes de MOFs microporeux. D’autre part, les paramètres texturaux (aire spécifique, volume poreux) et thermodynamiques (enthalpies d’adsorption) ont été corrélés aux quantités maximales de CO2 adsorbées au travers d’une approche quantitative de relation de structure-propriété pour établir des tendances linéaires. / Mixte Matrix Membranes (MMM’s) are promising materials for CO2 capture compared to current technologies as absorption using amines solvents (monoéthanolamine). Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline porous materials which can be integrate under nanoparticles shape to polymer phase of MMM’s. They are built from metal nods and organic ligand to yield well-defined tridimensional structure (3D). They possess various advantages: high specific surface area and pore volume, tunable pore size and some of them are stable in presence of water. MOFs have a sustainable chemistry to targeted applications unlike traditional adsorbents as activated carbons, zeolites.On the one hand, this work aimed the assessment of CO2 separation performances of microporous MOFs for CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 gas separations. The ‘gas-adsorbent’ interactions are favored in MOFs by: (1) a decrease of pore size, pore volume which can involve confinement effects, molecular sieve effects or (2) the presence of surface groups. Therefore, these factors can contribute to the CO2 selectivity improvement and have been studied for various microporous MOFs. On the other hand, textural (specific surface area, pore volume) and thermodynamic (adsorption enthalpy) parameters have been correlated to CO2 maximum excess uptakes through a quantitative structure-property approach to establish some linear trends.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The availability of laser systems capable of generating ultrashort optical pulses in the visible spectral range have made it possible to study molecular species with a temporal resolution in the order of intra-molecular dynamics which previously were not accessible. Henceforth, in this study a popular pump-probe technique called ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy (UTAS) is employed to study the initial photochromic reaction of metal complex, dithizonatophenylmercury (II) (DPM) under various conditions. These conditions include the use of different solvents and electronically altering DPM by the addition of substituents with specific electron affinity properties. For this study the photochromic behaviour of DPM dissolved in methanol is used as standard. Using this standard, the initial photochromic reaction after ultrafast excitation within less than 100 fs caused a radiationless photoreaction with a time constant of about 2 ps, which is interpreted as C=N isomerization along the twist coordinate. It is found that during this isomerization reaction an orthogonally twisted intermediate state was formed and observed through its excited-state absorption, which funnels through a conical intersection onto the ground state potential. Once here, bifurcation along pathways towards the ground states of the reactant and product configurations occurs. This was the first observation of photochromism for DPM in a strong polar solvent such as methanol. From the results of the test compound in methanol, comparisons to the photo-behaviour of DPM dissolved in deuterated methanol and dichloromethane are made. What is established is that changing the solvent resulted in slightly different decay times as well as spectral shifts in the absorption profile which suggested that the potential energy surface of the excited state is modified. This is similar to the results found from the electronically altered DPM species. Here the entire photoreaction is found to either be sped up (1 ps) or slowed down (4 ps) depending on the sample investigated. Previous studies on the photochromicity of DPM like systems concluded that apart from the photo-activated forward reaction, a back reaction occurs in the absence of light. Therefore a detailed look at the back reaction of DPM and its derivatives are also studied. This is done by temporally monitoring the absorption change of the photo-product as it converts back to the reactant. In doing so the lifetime of the photo-product is determined and found to differ greatly depending on the solvent and substituent used. Lastly, in assuming that the back reaction follows first order kinetics, an Arrhenius type measurement on the photo-product of DPM is conducted. The result of this measurement is that a potential energy barrier of 64.8 kJ/mol is overcome in the back reaction. The measurements performed and the results obtained from the photochromicity of DPM contribute to the understanding of photo-induced cis-trans isomerization reactions about a C=N double bond. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die beskikbaarheid van laser sisteme in staat om ultrakort optiese pulse te genereer in die sigbare spektrale gebied, het die studie van molekulˆere spesies met ’n tydresolusie in die orde van intra-molekulˆere dinamika wat voorheen nie toeganklik was nie. Voortaan, in hierdie studie word ’n populˆere aktiveer-interogeer tegniek genaamd ultravinnige tydafhanklike absorpsie spektroskopie (UTAS) aangewend om die aanvanklike fotochromiese reaksie van die metaal kompleks, ditisoonfenielkwik (II) (DFK) onder verskillende kondisies te bestudeer. Hierdie kondisies sluit in die gebruik van verskillende oplosmiddels en die elektroniese verstelling van DFK deur die toevoeging van substituente met spesifieke elektron affiniteit eienskappe. Vir hierdie studie word die fotochromiese gedrag van DFK, opgelos in metanol, as standaard gebruik. Met hierdie standaard, word gevind dat die aanvanklike fotochroom reaksie na ultravinnige opwekking binne minder as 100 fs, ’n stralingslose fotoreaksie met ’n tydkonstante van 2 ps veroorsaak. Hierdie fotoreaksie word verklaar as die C=N isomerisasie met betrekking tot die draai ko¨ordinaat. Daar is ook gevind dat gedurende hierdie isomerisasie reaksie, ’n ortogonaal verdraaide oorgangstoestand gevorm word wat waargeneem is deur sy absorpsie in die opgewekte toestand wat tregter deur ’n koniese kruispunt na die potensiaal van die grondtoestand. By hierdie punt vurk die proses na die grondtoestande van die reaktant en die produk vorme. Di´e was die eerste waarneming van fotochromisme van DFK opgelos in ’n sterk polˆere oplosmiddel soos metanol. Vanuit die resultate vir die toets mengsel in metanol word vergelykings getrek tot die fotogedrag van DFK opgelos in gedeureriese metanol en dichlorometaan. Wat hieruit vasgestel is, is dat die verandering in oplosmiddel wel die fotoreaksie be¨ınvloed deurdat verskillende vervaltye en spekrale verskuiwings in die apsorpsie profiel waargeneem word. Hierdie verskille dui aan dat die potensie¨ele energie oppervlakte van die opgewekte toestand wel gemodifiseer word. Dit is ook soortgelyk aan die resultate vir die elektronies verstelde BFK spesies. Hier is gevind dat die tempo van die totale fotoreaksie `of toeneem (1 ps) `of afneem (4 ps) afhanklik van die spesifieke spesie wat bestudeer word. Vorige studies van die fotochromiese gedrag van sisteme soortgelyk aan DFK het gevind dat behalwe vir die fotogeaktiveerde voorwaartse reaksie, daar ook ’n keersy reaksie plaasvind in die afwesigheid van lig. Dus word die keersy reaksie vir DFK en sy derivate ook in detial bestudeer. In hierdie studie word die absorpsie verskille van die fotoproduk tydelik waargeneem soos dit terugkeer na die reaktant. Op hierdie manier word die leeftyd van die fotoproduk bepaal en gevind dat dit grootliks afhang van die tipe oplosmiddel en tipe substituent wat gebruik word. Ten slote, wanneer daar aanvaar word dat di´e keersy reaksie eerste orde kinetika volg, word ’n Arrhenius tipe meting op die fotoproduk uitgevoer. Die resultaat van hierdie meting is dat ’n potensie¨ele enrgie versperring van 64.8 kJ/mol oorkom word in die keersy reaksie. Die metings wat uitgevoer is en die resultate wat verkry is van die fotochromiese gedrag van DFK dra by tot die verstandhouding van lig-ge¨ınduseerde cis-trans isomerisasie reaksies rondom ’n C=N dubbelbinding.

In recent years, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been identified as promising adsorbents in a number of industrially relevant, yet challenging, separations, including the removal of propane from propane/propylene mixtures and the separation of mixtures of xylene isomers. The highly tuneable nature of MOFs - wherein structures may be constructed from a variety of diverse building blocks – has resulted in the publication of a staggering number of frameworks incorporating a wide range of network topologies, pore shapes and pore diameters. As a result, there are a huge number of candidate adsorbents to consider for a given separation. Molecular simulation techniques allow the identification of those structural features and characteristics of a MOF which exert the greatest influence on the adsorption and separation of the compounds of interest, providing insights which can both guide the selection and accelerate the development of adsorbents for a specific application. The separation of propane/propylene mixtures via adsorption has typically focused on selective adsorption of the olefin, propylene, via specific olefin-adsorbent interactions. These propylene-selective MOFs result in processes which selectively remove the most abundant species in the process stream and are typically characterised by high heats of adsorption, resulting in large adsorption units and adsorbents which are difficult to regenerate. In this work, the capability of MOFs to selectively adsorb propane over propylene is explored, potentially allowing for the design of smaller and more energy-efficient adsorption units. By studying a range of different MOFs as well as carbon-based model pores, it was found that the low-pressure selectivity of the structure is determined by the strength of the electrostatic interaction between propylene and the framework, while the adsorptive preference at industrially-relevant pressures is dominated by the enhanced packing efficiency of propylene over propane. The confinement of C3 molecules, however, may be employed to negate this entropic advantage and guide the development of materials which selectively adsorb propane over propylene. It has recently been reported that the adsorptive preference of a MOF for one xylene isomer over another may be predicted based solely on the pore size distribution of the structure. In this work, the impact of pore size on selectivity was studied systematically in both one-dimensional model pore systems of varying geometries and analogous published MOF structures. The ability of the framework to discriminate between xylene molecules in these systems was found to be determined primarily by the different packing arrangements available to the different isomers – while small pores were found to favour the slimmest of the isomers, larger pores were found to favour the more compact ortho- isomer. Finally, the adsorption and diffusion of xylene isomers in a more complex MOF, UiO-66(Zr), was studied in depth. Simulations were able to correctly predict the previously-reported preference of the MOF for ortho-xylene (oX). The smaller volume of the oX molecule compared to the other isomers was found to be responsible both for an enhanced entropic contribution and higher guest-host interaction energies. The importance of framework flexibility in the diffusion of xylene isomers in UiO-66(Zr) was also explored, with distortion of the structure in response to interaction with adsorbed molecules found to be essential in allowing xylenes to diffuse through the pore space.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Berekeninge met Density Functional Theory (DFT) is ’n nuttige tegniek om die dinamika van molekules op potensiële energievlakke te verstaan. Beginnende met ’n prototipe molekuul formaldimien, wat die kern vorm van die groter fotochromiese molekuul dithizonatophenyl kwik (DPM), word die modellering van die molekuul meer ingewikkeld tot laasgenoemde bestudeer kan word asook sy fotochromiese afgeleides wat vervanging van elektronryk en elektronarm radikale by orto, meta en para posisies van die phenyl ringe insluit. DFT berekeninge word met spektra van Absorpsiespektroskopie met UV en sigbare lig asook tyd opgeloste spektra, verkry dmv femtosekondespektroskopie, vergelyk. In pol^ere aprotiese, pol^ere protiese en nie-pol^ere oplosmiddels, isomeriseer die molekuul om die C=N dubbelbinding. Daar kan tussen die twee isomere onderskei word deur dat die een in oplossing in sy grondtoestand blou en die ander een oranje voorkom. Die isomerisering is’n fotogeinduseerde proses. Die optimering van die molekul^ere struktuur, absorpsiespektra, oplosmiddel-afhanklikheid, en potensiële energievlak metings van die molekuul word bestudeer. Die sterk/swak wisselwerking wat in pol^ere protiese/aprotiese oplosmiddels verskyn word geopenbaar deur die hoe/lae absorpsie van die sekond^ere bande van die molekules. Daar is gevind dat die absorpsiespektra van DPM bathochromies in oplosmiddels met hoë diëlektriese konstantes is. Vir die potensiële energievlak berekeninge van die grondtoestand word rigiede en ontspanne metodes gebruik waar laasgenoemde met gebroke simmetrie berekeninge verkry word. Van alle metodes wat vir berekeninge gebruik was, gee die B3LYP/CEP-31G metode die beste benadering aan eksperimentele data. Alle berekeninge word gedoen met twee bekende sagteware pakkette; Amsterdam Density Functional (ADF) en Gaussian, wat op twee verskillende DFT metodes gebaseer is. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Density functional theory is a useful computational tool in the understanding of molecular dynamics on potential energy surfaces. Starting with a prototype molecule formaldimine, the photochromic molecule dithizonatophenylmercury II (DPM) and a set of its photochromic derivatives, (involving substitutions of electron donating and electron withdrawing substituents at ortho, meta and para positions of the dithizonato phenyl rings), are studied through density functional calculation in comparison with steady state absorption spectra obtained from UV-Visible and femto second spectroscopy experiments. In polar aprotic, polar protic and non-polar solvents these molecules isomerise around C=N double bond chromophore, from orange electronic ground states to blue electronic ground states upon photo-excitation. We investigate the structural optimisations, the absorption spectra, the solvent dependence and the potential energy surface (PES) of these molecules. The strong (weak) interactions exhibited by the polar protic (aprotic) solvents used are revealed through high (low) absorbance in the secondary bands of these molecules. The absorption spectra of DPM are found to be bathochromic in solvents with high dielectric constants. For the ground state PES calculation we make use of rigid and relaxed methods, and the latter is obtained through broken symmetry calculation. Of all the methods used in calculation, B3LYP/CEP-31G method gives the best approximation to the experimental data. All calculations are done using the two renown software, Amsterdam Density Functional (ADF) and Gaussian, availing their different density functional methods.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The first part of this study describes the synthesis of new porous materials from basic building blocks. Five structurally related ligands namely: N,N'-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)-naphthalene diimide (L1), N,N'-bis(4-pyridylmethyl)-naphthalene diimide (L2), N,N'-bis(4-pyridylmethyl)- pyromellitic diimide (L3), N,N'-bis(3-pyridylmethyl)-pyromellitic diimide (L4) and 2-(pyridin-4- ylmethyl)-benzene tricarboxylic anhydride (L5) were synthesised. Ligands L1 and L2 were reacted with metal nitrates and carboxylates as co-ligands in a systematic manner with a view to obtaining potentially porous 3–D coordination polymers. Ten structurally diverse coordination polymers were obtained and they were characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analysis. Four of these compounds absorb moderate amounts of CO2 and, in addition, show sorption selectivity towards CO2 over N2. The reaction of L3 and L4 with transition metal halides yielded two 1–D chains, while the reaction of L5 with transition metal nitrates yielded seven coordination polymers of which four are 2–D and three are 1–D. Of the 2–D structures three are isostructural. The second part of this work describes a variable pressure study of a flexible metal-organic framework [Zn2(BDC)2(BPY)] (BPY = 4,4 -bipyridine and BDC = 1,4-benzene dicarboxylic acid). [Zn2(BDC)2(BPY)] is one of the few examples of a flexible metal-organic framework that undergoes phase transformations in response to gas pressure. The high pressure sorption recorded for this metal-organic framework displays two inflection steps in the pressure range 0 to 30 bar, possibly indicating two phase transformations. The gas-loaded structures for each phase transformation were determined by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. High-pressure differential scanning calorimetry was also carried out on the system in order to determine accurate gate-opening pressures, as well as the energies involved with each phase transformation. The results correlate with those obtained from single-crystal X-ray diffraction and high-pressure sorption. The final section reports the mechanochemical synthesis of two Werner complexes [NiCl2(4- PhPy)4] (1), [CoCl2(4-PhPy)4] (2) and their corresponding solid solution [Ni0.5Co0.5Cl2(4-PhPy)4] (3) (PhPy = phenyl pyridine). The solid solution could only be formed by mechanochemical synthesis and not by conventional solution crystallisation methods. The solid solution exhibits sorption properties that differ from those of the pure compounds. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die eerste deel van hierdie studie beskryf die sintese van nuwe poreuse stowwe uit basiese boublokke. Vyf struktureel verwante ligande naamlik: N,N'-bis(3-piridielmetiel)-naftaleen diimied (L1), N,N'-bis(4-piridielmetiel)-naftaleen diimied (L2), N,N'-bis(4-piridielmetiel)- piromellitien diimied (L3), N,N'-bis(3-piridielmetiel)-piromellitien diimied (L4) en 2-(piridiel-4- ielmetiel)benseen trianhidried (L5) is gesintetiseer. Ligande L1 en L2 is gereageer met metaal nitrate en karboksielsure as mede-ligande in 'n sistematiese wyse met 'n oog op die verkryging van potensieel poreuse 3–D koördinasie polimere. Tien struktureel diverse koördinasie polimere is verkry en hulle is gekarakteriseer deur enkel-kristal X-straal-diffraksie, poeier X-straal diffraksie en termo-analise (thermal analysis). Vier van hierdie verbindings het matige hoeveelhede CO2 geabsorbeer en, bykomend, wys sorpsie selektiwiteit van CO2 oor N2. Die reaksie van L3 en L4 met oorgangsmetaalhaliede het twee 1–D kettings gevorm, terwyl die reaksie van L5 met oorgangsmetaal nitrate sewe koördinasie polimere opgelewer het, waarvan vier 2–D en drie 1–D polimere is. Van die 2–D polimere het drie vergelykbare strukture. Die tweede deel van hierdie werk beskryf 'n veranderlike druk studie van 'n buigsame metaalorganiese raamwerk [Zn2(BDC)2(BPY)] (BPY = 4,4-bipiridien en BDC = 1,4-benseen dikarboksielsuur). [Zn2(BDC)2(BPY)] is een van die min voorbeelde van 'n buigsame metaalorganiese raamwerk wat fase transformasies (phase transformations) ondergaan in respons op ‘n verandering in gas druk. Die hoë-druk sorpsie aangeteken vir hierdie metaal-organiese raamwerk vertoon twee infleksie stappe in die gebestudeerde druk gebied (0 tot 30 bar), wat moontlik op twee fase transformasies dui. Die gas-gelaaide strukture vir elke fase transformasie is bepaal deur middel van enkel-kristal X-straal-diffraksie. Hoë-druk differensiële skandeer kalorimetrie (differential scanning calorimetry) is ook uitgevoer op die stelsel ten einde dié akkurate hekopenings druk, sowel as die energie betrokke by elke fase transformasie te bepaal. Die resultate stem ooreen met dié verkry vanaf enkel-kristal X-straal diffraksie en hoë-druk sorpsie. Die finale afdeling bespreek die meganochemiese sintese van twee Werner komplekse [NiCl2(4-PhPy)4] (1) en [COCl2(4-PhPy)4] (2) en hul ooreenstemmende vaste oplossing (solid solution) [Ni0.5Co0.5Cl2(4-PhPy)4] (3). Die vaste oplossing kan slegs gevorm word deur meganochemiese sintese en nie deur konvensionele oplossing kristallisasie metodes. Die vaste oplossing vertoon sorpsie eienskappe wat verskil van dié van die suiwer verbindings.

The synthesis of a scandium aluminium methylphosphonate ScAl₃(CH₃PO₃)₆ isostructural to the aluminium methylphosphonate AlMePO-α and with permanent microporosity is reported here for the first time. Structural characterisation of three lanthanide bisphosphonate structures (I,II,III) with the light lanthanides and N,N'-piperazine bis-(methylenephosphonic acid) and its 2-methyl and 2,5-dimethyl derivatives is described. The framework of structure type I shows considerable flexibility upon dehydration with a symmetry change from C2/c, a = 23.5864(2) Å, b = 12.1186(2) Å, c = 5.6613(2) Å, β = 93.040(2)˚) in the hydrated state to P2₁/n, a = 21.8361(12) Å, b = 9.3519(4) Å, c = 5.5629(3) Å, β = 96.560(4)˚ after dehydration. This cell volume reduces by 27% on dehydration and is accompanied by a change in the conformation of the piperazine ring from chair to boat configuration. The structures of type I (hydrated and dehydrated) were refined against synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data. Despite the reversible hydration and flexibility, the structures possess no permanent porosity. Investigation of the solvothermal chemistry of scandium carboxylates identified routes to 7 framework structures 5 of which were previously unreported in the scandium system. Lower temperature solvothermal reactions using terephthalic acid (80 - 140°C using dimethylformamide and diethylformamide) yielded two scandium terephthalates, MIL-88B(Sc) and MIL-101(Sc), identified by laboratory X-ray powder diffraction. Whereas higher temperature (160 – 220°C), reactions gave MIL-53(Sc) and Sc₂BDC₃. Further study with the tri- and tetra-carboxylate linkers, trimesic acid, 3,3',5,5'-azobenzenetetracarboxylic acid and pyromellitic acid yielded MIL-100(Sc), Sc-ABTC and Sc₄PMA₃ respectively. Structural identification of MIL-100(Sc) and Sc-ABTC was performed by means of X-ray powder diffraction analysis and of Sc₄PMA₃ by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of a small pore scandium terephthalate Sc₂BDC₃ was investigated as a function of temperature and of functionalization. In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction data, collected on a Sc₂BDC₃ in vacuo, enabled a phase change from orthorhombic Fddd to monoclinic C2/c and the associated structural effects to be observed in detail. The orthorhombic structure displayed a negative thermal expansivity of 2.4 × 10⁻⁵ K⁻¹ over the temperature range 225 – 523 K which Rietveld analysis showed to be derived from carboxylate group rotation. Motion within the framework was studied by ²H wide-line and MAS NMR on deuterated Sc₂BDC₃ indicating π flips can occur in the phenyl rings above 298 K. The effects of functionalization on the Sc₂BDC₃ framework were investigated by reactions using the 2-amino- and 2-nitroterephthalic acid and gave evidence for a strong structural effect resulting from inclusion of the functional groups. The structure of Sc₂BDC₃ and the functionalised derivatives were solved using Rietveld analysis on synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data. Sc₂(NH₂-BDC)₃ was solved using the orthorhombic Sc₂BDC₃ framework starting model and, over the temperature range studied, stayed orthorhombic Fddd. Sc₂(NO₂-BDC)₃, was shown to be monoclinic C2/c over the same temperature range, a result of the steric effects of the bulky –NO₂ group in a small pore framework. Partial ordering of the functional groups was observed in both Sc₂(NH₂-BDC)₃ and Sc₂(NO₂-BDC)₃. The strength of interaction for the Sc₂(NH₂-BDC)₃ with CO₂ was higher than that of the parent Sc₂BDC₃ due to the strong –NH₂•••CO₂ interaction. Despite the inclusion of a relatively large –NO₂ group along the walls of a channel ~4 Å in diameter the Sc₂(NO₂-BDC)₃ still showed permanent microporosity to CO₂ (2.6 mmol g⁻¹) suggesting that there must be some motion in the -NO₂ group to allow the CO₂ molecules to diffuse through the channels. The scandium analogue of the flexible terephthalate MIL-53, a competitive phase in the synthesis of Sc₂BDC₃, was prepared and characterised by Rietveld analysis on synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data using a combination of literature structural models and models obtained from single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments. Experimental solid state ⁴⁵Sc, ¹³C and ¹H NMR data combined with NMR calculations on the structural models produced from diffraction analysis were used to identify the hydrated (MIL-53(Sc)-H₂O), calcined (MIL-53(Sc)-CAL) and high temperature (MIL-53(Sc)-HT) structures of MIL-53(Sc). Further to this the 2-nitroterephthalate derivative, MIL-53(Sc)-NO₂, was prepared and characterised using single crystal X-ray diffraction. The adsorptive properties of the parent terephthalate and the functionalised derivative were compared and in both cases showed a breathing behaviour, exemplified by steps in the adsorption isotherms. MIL-53(Sc)-CAL was found to possess a closed pore configuration in the dehydrated state, a previously unreported structural form for the MIL-53 series, and its presence can be observed in the low pressure region of the CO₂ adsorption isotherm as a non-porous plateau. The selectivity and separation properties of two MOFs, the nickel bisphosphonate, STA-12(Ni) and the scandium carboxylate, Sc₂BDC₃ were measured using breakthrough curves on mixtures of CH₄ and CO₂. The results showed both materials to be highly selective in the adsorption of CO₂ over CH₄. Column testing using a PLOT column of STA-12(Ni) and a packed column of Sc₂BDC₃ showed promising preliminary results with STA-12(Ni) displaying effective, baseline separation on low boiling point hydrocarbon mixtures (C1 – C4) while the smaller pore channels of Sc₂BDC₃ were effective in the size selective separation of higher boiling point branched and straight-chain hydrocarbons (C5 – C7).

Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) are nanoporous framework materials with tunable pore size and functionality, and hence attractive for gas separation membrane applications. Zeolitic Imidazolate Frameworks (ZIFs), a subclass of MOFs, are known for their high thermal and chemical stability. ZIF-8 has demonstrated potential to kinetically separate propane/propene in powder and membrane form. ZIF-8 membranes propane-propene separation performance is superior in comparison to polymer, mixed matrix and carbon membranes. The overarching theme of my research is to address challenges that hinder fabrication of MOF membranes on a commercial scale and in a reproducible and scalable manner. 1. Current approaches, are specific to a given ZIF, a general synthesis route is not available. Use of multiple steps for surface modification or seeding causes reproducibility and scalability issues. 2. Conventional fabrication techniques are batch processes, thereby limiting their commercialization. Here we demonstrate two new approaches that can potentially address these challenges. First, we report one step in situ synthesis of ZIF-8 membranes on more commonly used porous α-alumina supports. By incorporating sodium formate in the in situ growth solution, well intergrown ZIF-8 membranes were synthesized on unmodified supports. The mechanism by which sodium formate promotes heterogeneous nucleation was investigated. Sodium formate reacts with zinc source to form zinc oxide layer, which in turn promotes heterogeneous nucleation. Sodium formate promotes heterogeneous nucleation in other ZIF systems as well, leading to ZIF-7, Zn(Im)2 (ZIF-61 analogue), ZIF-90, and SIM-1 films. Thus one step in situ growth using sodium formate provides a simplified, reproducible and potentially general route for ZIF film fabrication. One step in situ route, although advantageous; is still conventional in nature and batch process with long synthesis time. This limits commercialization, due to scalability and manufacturing cost issues. Taking advantage of coordination chemistry of MOFs and using temperature as driving force, continuous well-intergrown membranes of HKUST-1 and ZIF-8 in relatively short time (15 min) using Rapid Thermal Deposition (RTD). With minimum precursor consumption and simplified synthesis protocol, RTD provides potential for a continuous, scalable, reproducible and commercializable route for MOF membrane fabrication. RTD-prepared MOF membranes show improved separation performances, indicating improved microstructure.