Direct transformation of butenes or ethylene into propylene by cascade catalytic reactions

Abstract

This perspective focuses on the production of propylene from n-butenes or ethylene only in catalytic cascade reactions. The studies reviewed here demonstrated that in a single reactor, two or more of these reactions, including at least one metathesis step, can be activated by multifunctional catalytic systems. Special attention has been paid to heterogeneous catalysts able to work without activators or co-catalysts and to their behaviour in these processes.