Reactions of Alkenes and the Equilibration of Hydrogen and Deuterium on Zirconia

Article abstract of DOI:10.1039/f19878303069

The hydrogenation of various alkenes, the equilibration of H2/D2 and the isomerization of some C6-alkenes have been studied over a range of temperatures on zirconia catalysts.Products from the reaction of some of the alkenes with deuterium were examined by (2)D n.m.r. spectroscopy.The rate of hydrogenation varied only to a small extent with the nature of the alkene, apart from some steric hindrance with some of the C6-compounds, and the supply of hydrogen to the surface appeared to be rate-determining.Reactions of alkenes with deuterium below 400 K gave D2-alkanes.As the temperature was raised, exchange of alkene was observed to an increasing extent, and the location of the deuterium atoms in the products provided evidence of possible mechanisms.