Mechanism of Propene-Deuterium Addition and Exchange Reaction over Silica-Supported ZrO2

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.67.3205

The mechanism of propene-deuterium reaction over unsupported and silica-supported ZrO2 catalysts was studied with kinetic investigation as well as microwave spectroscopic analysis of monodeuteriopropene. Unsupported ZrO2 exhibited the identical catalytic behavior for C3H6-D2 reaction with other oxide catalysts previously reported: Only propane-d2 was selectively formed in the addition process, with no hydrogen exchange in propene. By supporting on silica, the rate of C3H6-D2 reaction increased considerably, with the decrease of activation energy. Hydrogen exchange in propene proceeded simultaneously with addition via associative mechanism through propyl and isopropyl intermediates. Small particles of ZrO2 were proposed as active sites of this characteristic catalytic behavior.