Boron‐containing materials have recently been identified as highly selective catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of alkanes to olefins. It has previously been demonstrated by several spectroscopic characterization techniques that the surface of these boron‐containing ODH catalysts oxidize and hydrolyze under reaction conditions, forming an amorphous B2(OH)xO(3−x/2) (x=0–6) layer. Yet, the precise nature of the active site(s) remains elusive. In this Communication, we provide a detailed characterization of zeolite MCM‐22 isomorphously substituted with boron (B‐MWW). Using 11B solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, we show that the majority of boron species in B‐MWW exist as isolated BO3 units, fully incorporated into the zeolite framework. However, this material shows no catalytic activity for ODH of propane to propene. The catalytic inactivity of B‐MWW for ODH of propane falsifies the hypothesis that site‐isolated BO3 units are the active site in boron‐based catalysts. This observation is at odds with other traditionally studied catalysts like vanadium‐based catalysts and provides an important piece of the mechanistic puzzle.

Boron-based heterogeneous catalysts, such as hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) as well as supported boron oxides, are highly selective catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of light alkanes to olefins. Previous catalytic measurements and molecular characterization of boron-based catalysts by 11 B solid-state NMR spectroscopy and other techniques suggest that oxidized/ hydrolyzed boron clusters are the catalytically active sites for ODH. However, 11 B solid-state NMR spectroscopy often suffers from limited resolution because boron-11 is an I = 3/2 half-integer quadrupolar nucleus. Here, ultrahigh magnetic field (B 0 = 35.2 T) is used to enhance the resolution of 11 B solid-state NMR spectra and unambiguously determine the local structure and connectivity of boron species in h-BN nanotubes used as an ODH catalyst (spent h-BNNT), boron-substituted MCM-22 zeolite (B-MWW), and silica-supported boron oxide (B/SiO 2 ) before and after use as an ODH catalyst. One-dimensional direct excitation 11 B NMR spectra recorded at B 0 = 35.2 T are near isotropic in nature, allowing for the easy identification of all boron species. Two-dimensional (2D) 1 H-11 B heteronuclear correlation NMR spectra aid in the identification of boron species with B−OH functionality. Most importantly, 2D 11 B dipolar double-quantum single-quantum homonuclear correlation NMR experiments were used to unambiguously probe boron−boron connectivity within all heterogeneous catalysts. These experiments are practically infeasible at lower, more conventional magnetic fields due to a lack of resolution and reduced NMR sensitivity. The detailed molecular structures determined for the amorphous oxidized/hydrolyzed boron layers on these heterogeneous catalysts will aid in the future development of nextgeneration ODH catalysts.

Bulk boron materials, such as hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN), are highly selective catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP). Previous attempts to improve the productivity of these systems involved the immobilization of boron on silica and resulted in less selective catalysts. Here, we report that acid‐treated, activated carbon‐supported boron prepared via incipient wetness impregnation with boric acid (B/OAC) exhibits equal propylene selectivity and improved productivity (kgpropylene kgcat−1 hr−1) as compared to h‐BN. Characterization of the fresh and spent catalysts with infrared, Raman, X‐ray photoelectron, and solid‐state NMR spectroscopies reveals the presence of oxidized/hydrolyzed boron that is clustered on the surface of the support.

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Boron‐containing materials have recently been identified as highly selective catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of alkanes to olefins. It has previously been demonstrated by several spectroscopic characterization techniques that the surface of these boron‐containing ODH catalysts oxidize and hydrolyze under reaction conditions, forming an amorphous B2(OH)xO(3−x/2) (x=0–6) layer. Yet, the precise nature of the active site(s) remains elusive. In this Communication, we provide a detailed characterization of zeolite MCM‐22 isomorphously substituted with boron (B‐MWW). Using 11B solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, we show that the majority of boron species in B‐MWW exist as isolated BO3 units, fully incorporated into the zeolite framework. However, this material shows no catalytic activity for ODH of propane to propene. The catalytic inactivity of B‐MWW for ODH of propane falsifies the hypothesis that site‐isolated BO3 units are the active site in boron‐based catalysts. This observation is at odds with other traditionally studied catalysts like vanadium‐based catalysts and provides an important piece of the mechanistic puzzle.