title: Low-temperature alkane C-H bond activation by zeolites: an in situ solid-state NMR H/D exchange study for a carbenium concerto.
abstract: Isotopic H/D exchange has been monitored by in situ MAS NMR spectroscopy of 2-[D(14)]methylpentane with H-USY to probe the controversy over the alkane conversion mechanism. The probe molecule has distinct exchangeable sites with different accessibility to the zeolite surface. In the early stages of the process, the regioselectivity of exchange demonstrates that the slow step of the mechanism is controlled by a carbenium ion intermediate. At a later stage of exchange, intramolecular hydride migrations, typical of carbenium chemistry, replace D by H also on other carbon atoms, resulting in a loss of regioselectivity. Therefore, the first and the subsequent steps of the H/D exchange proceed at this temperature through a carbenium intermediate species.
authors.affiliation: Tectospin, Institut Lavoisier de Versailles (UMR CNRS 8180), Université de Versailles St Quentin en Yvelines, 45, Avenue des Etats Unis, 78035 Versailles Cedex, France. haouas@chimie.uvsq.fr
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haouas
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taulelle
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sommer