Surface Protected Organozirconium Catalyzes C─H Alumination of Saturated Hydrocarbons.

ABSTRACT: Surface grafted organozirconium catalyzes C─H/Et─Al exchange reactions, involving saturated hydrocarbons and AlEt₃, to afford organoaluminum compounds and ethane. The Zr(O^tBu)₃@SiO₂-Al₂O_3-700 (1) catalyst contains monopodal ≡SiO─Zr(O^tBu)₃ and only a few residual silanols (<5%). Nonetheless, these silanols are the Achille's heel of 1, providing a pathway for surface and catalyst degradation during catalysis, limiting the alkylaluminum yield and catalyst turnover. Support degradation, involving the cleavage of Si─O bonds by activated surface organometallics, is inhibited by capping silanols with ─SiMe₃. Residual silanols in 1 react with allyltrimethylsilane, as determined by solid-state ¹³

SUBMITTER: Banerjee S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12402881 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature