Catalytic synthesis of unsaturated nitriles from NO–alkane or NO–alkene on Pt–Sn/SiO2

Abstract

The Pt–Sn/SiO₂ catalysts prepared by selective bimetallic CVD reaction of SnMe₄ with Pt particles on SiO₂, characterized by EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure), yield acrylonitrile from NO + propene and methacrylonitrile from NO + isobutene and NO + isobutane with good selectivities, typically 70–93%, in contrast to negligible activity and selectivity (about one order of magnitude lower) with the monometallic Pt/SiO₂ catalyst.