Surface Organometallic Chemistry on Oxides: Selective Catalytic Low‐Temperature Hydrogenolysis of Alkanes by a Highly Electrophilic Zirconium Hydride Complex Supported on Silica

Abstract

At 50°C already the hydrogenolysis of neopentane, isobutane, and propane is catalyzed by the silica‐supported zirconium hydride [( ⦠ SiO) 3 Zr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 d o complex and is not observed for nonsupported, discrete zirconium hydrides. Moreover, the attachment to the support prevents a bimolecular deactivation.