PNNL

Abstract

The origin in the variations of trans-/cis-2-butene product selectivity ratios in 2-butanol dehydration over solid acid catalysts were investigated using a combined experimental-theory approach. Reactivity measurements over ?-Al2O3, AlOx/SBA-15, and H-form zeolites with widely varying Si/Al ratios and pore structures showed over two orders of magnitude change in the trans-/cis-2-butene product ratio. Activation energy barriers calculated for the concerted C-O and ß-C-H bond breakings of adsorbed butoxy intermediates by dispersion-corrected DFT calculations correctly predicted the trans-/cis-2-butene product ratio observed on ?-Al2O3. The very low trans-2-butene selectivity on ?-Al2O3 can now be understood by the formation of a late transition state with high energy barrier caused by the strong van der Waals interaction between the ?-H atoms and the flat catalyst surface. Decreasing the dispersive attractive force between the adsorbed butoxide and the surface (e.g., by moving it further away from the support surface in AlOx/SBA-15) leads to almost equimolar formation of the trans- and cis-2-butene isomers. Trans-/cis-2-butene selectivity ratios much higher than that dictated by thermodynamic equilibrium can be achieved by introducing additional geometric constraints around the active catalytic site (e.g., varying the 3D environment around the active center in zeolites). We propose a model to explain the widely varying trans-/cis-2-butene selectivity in 2-butanol dehydration over solid acid catalysts that is consistent with the experimental results in this study. A key outcome of the study is the realization that van der Waals interactions between the reactant and the active catalyst surface must be included in the theoretic models in order to be able to accurately predict product selectivities. This information, in turn, significantly advances our ability to develop catalyst materials with designed active centers in order to achieve desired regioselectivities.