Adsorption of neopentane on HNaY-FAU zeolite was studied by IR spectro
scopy. At beam temperature neopentane already shows a weak interaction
with Bronsted acidic sites. At high temperatures, irreversible consum
ption of both Bronsted and Lewis sites is observed. According to the r
esults of quantum chemical calculations a proton attack on the central
carbon of neopentane seems to be favoured.