Lewis Base Catalytic Properties of [Nb10 O28 ]6- for CO2 Fixation to Epoxide: Kinetic and Theoretical Studies.

The decaniobate cluster (TBA)6 [Nb10 O28 ] (TBA+ =tetrabutylammonium cation) was found to act as a Lewis base catalyst for fixation of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) to styrene oxide (SO). A kinetic study showed that the cycloaddition of CO2 adsorbed on [Nb10 O28 ]6- with SO corresponds to the rate-determining step in the Eley-Rideal mechanism. Density functional theory calculation predicted that CO2 on the corner and edge O atoms of [Nb10 O28 ]6- is negatively charged and thus activated for nucleophilic attack on SO.