Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 11, 2025

Methane Hydrate Crystallization on Sessile Water Droplets
Published on: May 26, 2021
High pressure-derived nonsymmetrical [Cu2O]2+ core for room-temperature methane hydroxylation
Peter E VanNatta1, Cynthia M Archambault1, Sicheng Wang1
1Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76205, USA.
Abstract:
Nonsymmetrical oxygen-bridged binuclear copper centers have been proposed and modeled as intermediates and transition states in several C─H oxidation pathways, leading to the postulation that structural dissymmetry enhances the reactivity of the bridging oxygen. However, experimentally characterizing the structure and reactivity of these transient species is remarkably challenging. Here, we report the high-pressure synthesis of a metastable nonsymmetrical dicopper-μ-oxo compound with exceptional reactivity toward the mono-oxygenation of aliphatic C─H bonds. The nonequivalent coordination environment of copper stabilizes localized mixed valency and greatly enhances the hydrogen atom abstraction activity of the bridging oxygen, enabling room-temperature hydroxylation of methane under pressure. These findings highlight the role of dissymmetry in the reactivity of binuclear copper centers and demonstrate precise control of molecular structures by mechanical means.
More Related Videos
08:14Improved Heterojunction Quality in Cu2O-based Solar Cells Through the Optimization of Atmospheric Pressure Spatial Atomic Layer Deposited Zn1-xMgxO
Published on: July 31, 2016
10:19Synthesis and Testing of Supported Pt-Cu Solid Solution Nanoparticle Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation
Published on: July 18, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Hybridization of Atomic Orbitals I
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
Carboxylic Acids to Methylesters: Alkylation using Diazomethane
Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
Conformations of Ethane and Propane
Staggered conformation is a low energy and more stable conformation with the C-H bonds on the front carbon placed at 60°dihedral angles relative to the C-H bonds on the back carbon, leading to a reduced torsional strain. In staggered...