HYDROGENATION OF AROMATICS UNDER MILD CONDITIONS ON TRANSITION-METAL COMPLEXES IN ZEOLITES - A COOPERATIVE EFFECT OF MOLECULAR-SIEVES

The hydrogenation of aromatics, i.e. benzene, toluene, alpha-methylsty rene, anisole, and ethyl benzoate, can be carried out under a very low (1/12000) catalyst to substrate ratio, and mild reaction conditions ( 80 degrees C, 6 atm of H2O), on Rh and Ni organometallic complexes anc hored on USY zeolites. A strong cooperative effect between the faujasi te surface and the transition metal surface complex is thought to be r esponsible for the simultaneous enhancement of concentrations of arene and H-2 in the neighborhood of the catalytic centers, and for the obs erved electronic effects.