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Organometallic and reactor studies of the thiophene hydrodesulfurization mechanism

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:6974062

A series of compounds are prepared to study the effects of methyl groups on the chemical reaction kinetics of thiophene hydrodesulfurization. The 2-benzothienyl complexes, Cp(PMe[sub 3])[sub 2]Ru(2-BTyl) (1) and Cp(CO) (PPh[sub 3])Ru(2-BTyl) (2) are prepared from reactions of 2-benzothienyllithium with Cp(PMe[sub 3])[sub 2]RuX (X = Cl, CF[sub 3]SO[sub 3]) and [eta][sup 1] (S)-benzo[b]thiophene (BT) complex Cp(CO) (PPh[sub 3])Ru ([eta][sup 1] (S)-BT)[sup +] (4). The analogous protonation of 1 appears to initially add H[sup +] to the S atom in the BTyl ligand; this intermediate subsequently rearranges to the [eta][sup 1](S)-BT[sup +] (3). These reactions suggest a possible pathway for deuterium exchange in the 2-position of benzothiophene over hydrodesulfurization catalysts. The deuterodesulfurization (DDS) of thiophene was investigated over PbMo[sub 6.2]S[sub 8] at 400[degrees]C using a flow-microreactor. The product 1,3- butadiene (BDE), which is likely to be the first desulfurized product under these conditions, was analyzed for deuterium content by [sup 2]H NMR and mass spectrometries. At different levels of thiophene conversion (0.86-10.2%), the amount of deuterium incorporated into BDE remains constant. Unconverted thiophene incorporates 0.42 D atoms at 10.2% thiophene conversion but only 0.05 D atoms at 0.86% conversion. Reaction of 2,5-dihydrothiophene (2,5-DHT) with D[sub 2] at 200[degrees]C over PbMo[sub 6.2]S[sub 8] liberates BDE as the only hydrocarbon product. The BDE, however, incorporates no deuterium. Thiophene, H[sub 2]S and 2,5-DHT effectively poison the catalyst, inhibiting both BDE hydrogenation and deuterium exchange. Results of this study are used to indicate which thiophene HDS mechanisms most likely occur under these conditions over PbMo[sub 6.2]S[sub 8].

Research Organization:
Iowa State Univ. of Science and Technology, Ames, IA (United States)
OSTI ID:
6974062
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English