Ring opening of methylcyclopentane over Al2O3 and SiO2 supported Rh catalysts

Hydrogenolytic ring opening of methylcyclopentane (MCP) was investigated on Rh/Al₂O₃ and Rh/SiO₂ catalysts, prepared by the incipient wetness method. Strong dependence can be seen in the yield and distribution of ring opening products as a function of temperature and hydrogen pressure. They depended also on the support used. The ring opening reaction required high hydrogen coverage, and was not random (hindered in the vicinity of the methyl group), thus, mainly 2-methylpentane (2MP) and 3-methylpentane (3MP) were formed. The fragments consisted of C₁–C₅ alkanes, with methane andi-pentane as main fragments. This means the possibility of breaking two C−C bonds during one sojourn of the reactant on the catalyst, both taking place far from the substituent. The loose positive correlation between the ratios ofi-pentane/n-pentane and 3MP/n-hexane seems to support this conclusion. Dedicated to Professor Pál Tétényi on the occasion of his 70th birthday