PICOSECOND INFRARED ACTIVATION OF METHANOL IN ACID ZEOLITES

Highly porous, crystalline zeolite catalysts are used industrially to catalyze the conversion of methanol to gasoline. We have performed a p icosecond spectroscopic study providing insights into both the structu re and the dynamics of methanol adsorbed to acid zeolites. We reveal t he adsorption structure of methanol at the catalytically reactive site and show that the reaction of this complex in the zeolite to the firs t intermediate in the methanol-lo-gasoline reaction sequence is initia ted by picosecond infrared excitation. The picosecond dynamics of this activation process can be followed in real-time, and reflects the pot ential energy surface relevant to the reaction. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie nce B.V.