kaolinite and formamide

The effects of kaolinite mineral surfaces on the unimolecular rearrangements of formamide (FM) were investigated using periodic density functional theory in conjunction with pseudopotential plane-wave approach. Surface hydroxyl groups covering the octahedral surface of kaolinite were found to play the role of catalysts in the transformations of FM. They induce a reduction of 31 kcal/mol on the energy barrier for formation of its isomer aminohydroxymethylene (AHM), which is close to the reduction amount calculated for water-catalyzed reactions. This suggests that the kaolinite octahedral surface exerts a catalytic effect similar to that of the water molecule. As the tetrahedral surface does not contain catalytic surface hydroxyl groups, only water-assisted FM transformation was therefore studied on this surface whose energy barrier amounts to ∼17 kcal/mol. The combined effect of both water and kaolinite on FM rearrangements via triple hydrogen transfer reactions does not significantly lower the energy barriers, as compared to those of double hydrogen transfer reactions. The triple hydrogen transfer energy barriers amount to ∼20 and ∼36 kcal/mol, and the double ones are ∼21 and ∼40 kcal/mol for formation of formimic acid and AHM isomers, respectively. However, the energies of the systems in water-catalyzed channels lie below the available energies of the original reactants, and thus these channels are more favored than the water-free ones. With its multiple functions as both a supporting plate-form and a catalyst for FM reactions, kaolinite can thus be regarded as an important natural catalyst for prebiotic synthesis.

Topics: Catalysis; Formamides; Hydrogen; Isomerism; Kaolin; Models, Chemical; Surface Properties; Water

The thermal behavior of a formamide-intercalated mechanochemically activated (dry-ground) kaolinite was investigated by thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS) and diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFT). After the removal of adsorbed and intercalated formamide, a third type of bonded reagent was identified in the temperature range 230-350 degrees C decomposing in situ to CO and NH3. The presence of formamide decomposition products, as well as CO2 and various carbonates identified by DRIFT spectroscopy, indicates the formation of superactive centers as a result of mechanochemical activation and heat treatment (thermal deintercalation). The structural variance of surface species decreases with the increase of grinding time. The unground mineral contains a small amount of weakly acidic and basic centers. After 3 h of grinding, the number of acidic centers increases significantly, while on further grinding the superactive centers show increased basicity. With the increase of grinding time and treatment temperature the number of bicarbonate- and bidentate-type structures decreases in favor of the carboxylate- and monodentate-type ones.

Topics: Formamides; Intercalating Agents; Kaolin; Molecular Structure; Surface Properties; Temperature; X-Ray Diffraction

The vibrational spectroscopy of low and high defect kaolinites fully and partially intercalated with formamide have been determined using a combination of X-ray diffraction, DRIFT and Raman spectroscopy. Expansion of the high defect kaolinite to 10.09 A resulted in a decrease in the peak width of the d(001) peak attributed to a decrease in defect structures upon intercalation. Changes in the defect structures of the low defect kaolinite were observed. Additional infrared bands were observed for the formamide intercalated kaolinites at 3629 and 3606 cm(-1). The 3629 cm(-1) band is attributed to the hydroxyl stretching frequency of the inner surface hydroxyl group hydrogen bonded to the carboxyl group of the formamide. The 3606 cm(-1) band is ascribed to water in the interlayer. Concomitant changes are observed in both the hydroxyl deformation modes and in the carboxyl bands.

Topics: Amides; Formamides; Kaolin; Models, Molecular; Spectrophotometry, Infrared; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Temperature; Water; X-Ray Diffraction