Donor effect and selectivity of ethylene–ethane production in the reduction of acetylene with the molybdenum-cysteamine-related ligands catalyst system

Abstract

The catalytic effect of co-ordination donor atoms on the reduction of acetylene with the Mo–cysteamine-related ligands system increases in the order S > Se O; the selectivity of ethylene-ethane production in acetylene reduction by cysteamine–Mo and NN-dimethylcysteamine–Mo catalysts is of interest, the C₂H₄ : C₂H₆ ratios being 16·5 : 1 and 0·14 : 1, respectively.