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Title: A Strong Support Effect in Selective Propane Dehydrogenation Catalyzed by Ga(i-Bu)3 Grafted onto γ-Alumina and Silica

Journal Article · · ACS Catalysis

The reactions of Ga(i-Bu)3 (i-Bu = CH2CH(CH3)2) with the dehydrated and partially dehydroxylated surfaces of alumina (Al2O3–500) and silica (SiO2–700) were studied by IR, high field solid-state NMR and EXAFS spectroscopies, as well as elemental analysis. Grafting onto Al2O3–500 occurs selectively by protonolysis at individual surface hydroxyl groups, resulting in the formation of mononuclear [(≡AlO)Ga(i-Bu)2L] (L = surface oxygen) sites as the major surface organometallic entities. Conversely, grafting on silica affords dinuclear species [(≡SiO)2Ga2(i-Bu)3] by a combination of protonolysis and isobutyl group transfer to Si. Further evidence for the difference in nuclearity was obtained by analysis of the WT-EXAFS. The mononuclear alumina-supported Ga sites show much higher activity in propane dehydrogenation than their dinuclear silica-supported counterparts. The propane dehydrogenation reaction may require the presence of Al–O–Ga bonds to promote heterolytic C–H bond activation. In conclusion, comparisons with benchmark catalysts and related systems show that the effect of the catalyst diluent is significant under the reaction conditions and must be carefully assessed in order to attribute reactivity correctly.

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515; FG02-03ER15467; FR 2638
OSTI ID:
1476169
Journal Information:
ACS Catalysis, Vol. 8, Issue 8; ISSN 2155-5435
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 52 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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