SELECTIVE N-BUTANE ISOMERIZATION OVER HIGH SPECIFIC SURFACE-AREA MOO3-CARBON-MODIFIED CATALYST

Reaction of MoO3 with a hydrogen and n-butane mixture at low temperatu re allows the formation of a high specific surface area MoO3-carbon-mo dified catalyst, which is active and very selective for n-butane isome rization. The reaction is performed via a methyl shift mechanism proba bly involving a metallacyclobutane intermediate; among the products so me homologation molecules are found to confirm this mechanism.