Isolation of rhenium and ReOx species within ZSM5 channels and their catalytic function in the activation of alkanes and alkanols

Synthesis protocols, structures, and reactivity of Re-oxo species grafted onto H-ZSM5, and their subsequent conversion to Re-clusters through contact with H2 or CH4 were studied by using Raman, infrared, and X-ray absorption spectroscopies. Reactivity measurements by using alkane and alkanol reactants were also examined. Sublimation of Re(2)O(7) at 723 K led to a stoichiometric exchange with each ReO(x) species replacing one proton. Raman features for Re(2)O(7) disappeared during thermal treatment and Raman bands assigned to distorted-tetrahedral Si-O(f)ReO(3)-Al (O(f): zeolite-lattice oxygen atoms) species emerged; infrared bands for acidic OH groups in H-ZSM5 weakened concurrently. X-ray absorption near-edge and fine-structure spectra detected the formation of distorted-tetrahedral Re7+-oxo species during thermal treatment of Re(2)O(7)/H-ZSM5 mixtures in air, and their subsequent reduction to Re(0) in H2 or CH4 to form encapsulated Re metal clusters similar in diameter (approximately 8 A) to the channel intersections in ZSM5. Si-O(f)ReO(3)-Al species in ReO(x)-ZSM5 catalyzed the oxidative conversion of C(2)H(5)OH to acetaldehyde, acetal, and ethyl acetate with very low selectivity to CO(x) (<1 %). Unprecedented turnover rates were exhibited at temperatures much lower than previously found for ReO(x)-based catalysts, and without deactivation or sublimation processes ubiquitous in crystalline Re7+ compounds at temperatures required for catalysis. Encapsulated Re metal clusters formed by the reduction of Si-O(f)ReO(3)-Al precursors led to CH4 pyrolysis and C(3)H(8) dehydrocyclodimerization rates (per Re) that are higher than those previously reported for zeolite-based catalysts. The rate of CH4 conversion to benzene, by using Re-ZSM5, was approximately 30 % higher than that of the best reported catalysts, based on encapsulated MoC(x) clusters, whereas C(2)H(4) and C6+ arene selectivities were similar. C(3)H(8) activity and selectivity of Re-ZSM5 was significantly higher than that of Ga-ZSM5, the best reported catalyst for these reactions. Reaction rates (per Re) were independent of the Re/Al(f) (Al(f): aluminum framework) ratio for both Re and ReO(x) species. This is consistent with the uniform character of the structures formed during grafting of the ReO(x) species through sublimation and their ability to retain their homogeneity even after their reduction to encapsulated Re-clusters.