DEPROTONATION OF HYDROCARBON RADICAL CATIONS IN ZEOLITES

Neutral radicals are observed at 77 K following radiolysis of cyclohep tatriene and cyclohexane adsorbed on ZSM-5 zeolites. The mechanism of radical formation is assigned to proton transfer from the sorbate radi cal cations to the zeolite lattice. In the case of cycloheptatriene, t he ratio C7H7/C7H8+. increases with the zeolite Al content. Cyclohepta triene adsorbs to at least two types of sites; the more basic sites in crease in number as the Al content increases, are lower in energy and are populated first.