Thermal decomposition of ethylene oxide on Pd(111). Comparison of the pathways for the selective oxidation of ethylene and olefin metathesis

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Langmuir; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/la00015a022· OSTI ID:7069776

Lambert, R M ^[1]; Ormerod, R M ^[2]; Tysoe, W T ^[3]

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1. Univ. of Cambridge (United Kingdom)
2. Univ. of Keele (United Kingdom)
3. Univ. of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (United States)

The product distribution detected in the multimass temperature-programmed desorption of a saturated overlayer of ethylene oxide adsorbed on Pd(111) at [approximately] 180 K indicates that it decomposes to yield ethylene and acetaldehyde. These observations are interpreted by postulating that ethylene oxide reacts to form an oxymetallocycle. This is proposed to thermally decompose in a manner analogous to carbometallocycles that form during olefin metathesis catalysis by the reaction between an alkene and a surface carbene. Thus, the metallocycle can decompose to yield ethylene and deposit adsorbed atomic oxygen or undergo a [beta]-hydrogen transfer to form acetaldehyde. 25 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 7069776
• Journal Information: Langmuir; (United States), Vol. 10:3; ISSN 0743-7463
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
ETHYLENE
OXIDATION
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
DESORPTION
PYROLYSIS
ACETALDEHYDE
ALKENES
AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
MASS SPECTROSCOPY
PALLADIUM
REACTION INTERMEDIATES
ALDEHYDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
HYDROCARBONS
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLATINUM METALS
SORPTION
SPECTROSCOPY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
400201* - Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
400102 - Chemical & Spectral Procedures