Silica-supported isolated gallium sites as highly active, selective and stable propane dehydrogenation catalysts

Abstract

Single-site gallium centers on the surface of silica are prepared via grafting of [Ga(OSi(OtBu)₃)₃(THF)] on SiO_2–700 followed by a thermolysis step. The resulting surface species corresponds to well-defined tetra-coordinate gallium single-sites, [(SiO)₃Ga(XOSi)] (X = –H or Si) according to IR, X-ray absorption near-edge structure and extended X-ray absorption fine structure analysis. These gallium sites show high activity, selectivity and stability for propane dehydrogenation with an initial turnover frequency of 20 per h per gallium center, propylene selectivity of ≥93% and remarkable stability over 20 h. The stability of the catalyst probably results from site-isolation of the active site on a non-reducible support such as silica, diminishing facile reduction typical of Ga₂O₃-based catalysts.