Influence of Framework Heteroatoms on Olefin Metathesis Activity Using MoO3-MFI Catalysts

Propylene Metathesis over Molybdenum Silicate Microspheres with Dispersed Active Sites

In this work, we demonstrate that amorphous and porous molybdenum silicate microspheres are highly active catalysts for heterogeneous propylene metathesis. Homogeneous molybdenum silicate microspheres and aluminum-doped molybdenum silicate microspheres were synthesized via a nonaqueous condensation of a hybrid molybdenum biphenyldicarboxylate-based precursor solution with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane. The as-prepared hybrid metallosilicate products were calcined at 500 °C to obtain amorphous and porous molybdenum silicate and aluminum-doped molybdenum silicate microspheres with highly dispersed molybdate species inserted into the silicate matrix. These catalysts contain mainly highly dispersed MoOx species, which possess high catalytic activity in heterogeneous propylene metathesis to ethylene and butene. Compared to conventional silica-supported MoOx catalysts prepared via incipient wetness impregnation (MoIWI), the microspheres with low Mo content (1.5-3.6 wt %) exhibited nearly 2 orders of magnitude higher steady-state propylene metathesis rates at 200 °C, approaching site time yields of 0.11 s-1.

Room-Temperature Metathesis of Ethylene with 2-Butene to Propene Over MoOx-Based Catalysts: Mixed Oxides as Perspective Support Materials

We investigated the effect of supports based on ZrO2, TiO2, Al2O3, and SiO2 on the rate of propene formation in the metathesis of ethylene with 2-butene at 50 °C over Mo-containing catalysts possessing highly dispersed MoOx. Large improvements in this rate were achieved when using supports composed of mixed oxides (ZrO2–SiO2, ZrO2–PO4, TiO2–SiO2; Al2O3–SiO2) rather than of individual oxides (ZrO2, TiO2, Al2O3, SiO2). Although previous literature studies dealing with the metathesis reaction over Al2O3- or SiO2-suppported catalysts at higher temperatures suggest the importance of redox or acidic properties of supported MoOx species for catalyst activity, we were not able to establish any general direct correlation in this regard. Contrarily, the rate of propene formation can be significantly enhanced when promoting supports with an oxide promoter. We suggest that the created support lattice defects may facilitate the transformation of MoOx to Mo carbenes under reaction conditions or improve the intrinsic activity of the latter.

Graphic Abstract

SBA-15 as a Support for Effective Olefin Metathesis Catalysts

Olefin metathesis is the catalytic transformation of olefinic substrates, finding a wide range of applications in organic synthesis. The mesoporous molecular sieve Santa Barbara Amorphous (SBA-15) has proven to be an excellent support for metathesis catalysts thanks to its regular mesoporous structure, high BET area, and large pore volume. A survey of catalysts consisting of (i) molybdenum and tungsten oxides on SBA-15, and (ii) molybdenum and ruthenium organometallic complexes (Schrock and Grubbs-type carbenes) on SBA-15 is provided together with their characterization and catalytic performance in various metathesis reactions. The comparison with catalysts based on other supports demonstrates the high quality of the mesoporous molecular sieve SBA-15 as an advanced catalyst support.