Investigation of the selectivity of the action of oxide catalysts in the conversion of 2-pentanol

Conclusions

• 1. The selectivity of the action of metal oxides in reactions of conversion of 2-pentanol is associated with the position of the corresponding elements in the periodic system.

• 2. Oxides of metals of group II selectively catalyze the dehydrogenation of the alcohol, oxides of metals of IV, V, and VI selectively catalyze dehydration, while oxides of metals of group III accelerate both processes.

• 3. In the presence of all the tested catalysts, the secondary alcohol is dehydrated with the formation of a nonequilibrium mixture ofα- andβ-olefins. The excess of theα-olefin concentration in the catalyzate over the equilibrium value depends on the chemical nature of the oxide. Oxides of elements of group II (with the exception of the alkaline earth oxides) and group III catalyze the dehydration of 2-pentanol primarily to anα-olefin, while oxides of elements of groups IV, V, and VI catalyze dehydration to aβ-olefin.

• 4. The detected correlation confirms the concept of the chemical nature of catalysis.