SURFACE ORGANOMETALLIC CHEMISTRY ON OXIDES - SELECTIVE CATALYTIC LOW-TEMPERATURE HYDROGENOLYSIS OF ALKANES BY A HIGHLY ELECTROPHILIC ZIRCONIUM HYDRIDE COMPLEX SUPPORTED ON SILICA

At 50-degrees-C already the hydrogenolysis of neopentane, isobutane, and propane is catalyzed by the silica-supported zirconium hydride [(-> SiO)3Zr-H]. The reaction selectively produces methane together with isobutane, propane, and ethane, respectively. The activity is attributable to the high electrophilicity of the 8-electron d0 complex and is not observed for nonsupported, discrete zirconium hydrides. Moreover, the attachment to the support prevents a bimolecular deactivation.