Selectivity limitations in the heterogeneous epoxidation of olefins: Branching reactions of the oxametallacycle intermediate in the partial oxidation of styrene

The partial oxidation of olefins on Ag surfaces has been a long standing problem in surface science and is of great commercial interest. We present a temperature-programmed reaction spectroscopy (TPRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study of the partial oxidation of styrene on Ag(111). The reaction products are CO2, water, styrene oxide, benzene, and benzoic acid. XPS gives evidence for two different reaction intermediates that we assign to an oxametallacycle and to benzoate. The oxametallacycle seems to be the precursor for both the formation of styrene oxide and the formation of benzoate, and thus, in addition to leading to styrene oxide, also leads to undesired byproducts. The benzoate reacts further to form CO2, benzene, and benzoic acid. Copyright © 2006 American Chemical Society.