The self-metathesis of propylene
by heterogeneous supported ReO
x
/Al2O3 catalysts was
investigated with in situ Raman spectroscopy, isotopic switch (D–C3
= → H–C3
=),
temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR) spectroscopy, and steady-state
kinetic studies. The in situ Raman studies showed that two distinct
surface ReO4 sites are present on alumina and that the
olefins preferentially interact with surface ReO4 sites
anchored at acidic surface sites of alumina (olefin adsorption: C4
= > C3
= > C2
=). The isotopic switch experiments demonstrate that surface
Re*CH3 and Re*CHCH3 are present
during propylene metathesis, with Re* representing activated surface
rhenia sites. At low temperatures (<100 °C), the rate-determining
step is adsorption of propylene on two adjacent surface sites (rate
≈ [C3
=][Re*]2. At high temperatures
(>100 °C), the rate-determining step is the recombination
of
two surface propylene molecules (rate ≈ [C3
=]2[Re*]). To a lesser extent, the recombination
of surface Re*CH3 and Re*CHCH3 intermediates also contributes to self-metathesis of propylene at
elevated reaction temperatures.