Multicomponent reactions such as ammoxidation are highly
desirable
for chemical synthesis. The complicated reaction network and catalytic
active sites involved, however, make it rather challenging for extensive
structure–performance relationship investigations and subsequent
rational design of an efficient catalyst. In this work, efficient
VO
x
/TiO2 catalysts with concise
components and exquisite structure design demonstrated 95% selectivity
at 98% conversion under 2070 h–1 for 3-picoline
ammoxidation. After clarifying that the oxidative dehydrogenation
process is rate-limiting, we assumed that the abundance of reactive
surface lattice oxygen at the interface of vanadium–titanium
is the key to high productivity and suppression of oxidation side
reactions since low reaction temperature is beneficial for enlarging
the difference in rates of different energy barriers. In addition,
rather than applying the traditional neutralization method with alkaline
components, in situ formed V2O5 crystallite
was subtly to cover the strong acid sites on VO
x
/TiO2 catalysts in that the strong adsorption of
pyridine nitrogen in 3-cyanopyridine on strong acid sites can lead
to severe hydrolysis side reactions.