CATALYTIC HYDROTREATING OF INDOLE, BENZOTHIOPHENE, AND BENZOFURAN OVER MO2N

The activity of gamma-Mo2N for heteroatom removal from benzofuran, benzothiophene, and indole has been investigated. Gamma-Mo2N is found to be an effective catalyst in all three cases. The distribution of products observed as a function of temperature suggests that the reaction mechanism is similar for all three reactants. Rapid hydrogenation of the heterocyclic ring is followed by hydrogenolysis of the X-C bond in the saturated ring and release of the heteroatom as XH(n) (X = O, S, N). The product formed in the last step of the sequence is ethylbenzene. Hydrogenation of the benzene ring in ethylbenzene is not observed, but evidence is found for hydrogenolysis and dealkylation of the alkyl group.