Rhenium oxide supported on mesoporous organized alumina as a catalyst for metathesis of 1-alkenes

New type of heterogeneous catalyst for metathesis of linear 1-olefins based on rhenium (VII) oxide supported on organized mesoporous alumina was developed. This catalyst operates under very mild reaction conditions without any solvent and the highest activity was achieved at the reaction temperature of 60degreesC with selectivity to symmetrical olefin over 90%. The optimum loading of rhenium (VII) oxide was found to be between 9 and 15 wt% of Re. The initial activity was dependent on pore size diameter - the larger pore diameter, the higher initial catalytic activity under the same reaction conditions.