New SiO2-supported niobium monomer catalysts for dehydrogenation of ethanol
Abstract
New Nbv monomers supported on SiO2, Al2O3, or TiO2 have been prepared by reaction between Nb(η3-C3H5)4 and the surface OH groups of SiO2, Al2O3, or TiO2, followed by treatment with H2 and O2; of these the SiO2-supported Nb catalyst shows high activity and selectivity for the dehydrogenation of ethanol to give acetaldehyde at 473–573 K unlike the preferential dehydration observed over the usual Nb impregnation catalysts.