A first principle study of a model bimolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction promoted by an ammonium catalyst supported on oxidized carbon black

Abstract

The adsorption of a tetraalkylammonium ion was simulated on various surface sites of oxidized carbon black (oCB). Next, we studied a model S_N2-type reaction between sodium thiocyanate and benzyl bromide. The role of the support in stabilizing the reaction intermediates via hydrogen bonds is proven to be the keyfactor, as well as the mediator effect of the quaternary ammonium ion. These findings shed light on the experiments reporting the high activity of ammonium-based catalysts supported on oCB in this type of reaction.