XPS and HR TEM Elucidation of the Diversity of Titania-Supported Single-Site Ir Catalyst Performance in Spin-Selective Propene Hydrogenation

Immobilized [Ir(COD)Cl](2)-Linker/TiO(2) catalysts with linkers containing Py, P(Ph)(2) and N(CH(3))(2) functional groups were prepared. The catalysts were tested via propene hydrogenation with parahydrogen in a temperature range from 40 °C to 120 °C which was monitored via NMR. The catalytic behavior of [Ir(COD)Cl](2)-Linker/TiO(2) is explained on the basis of quantitative and qualitative XPS data analysis performed for the catalysts before and after the reaction at 120 °C. It is shown that the temperature dependence of propene conversion and the enhancement of the NMR signal are explained via a combination of the stabilities of both the linker and immobilized [Ir(COD)Cl](2) complex. It is demonstrated that the N(CH(3))(2)-linker is the most stable at the surface of TiO(2) under used reaction conditions. As a result, only this sample shows a rise in the enhancement of the NMR signal in the 100–120 °C temperature range.