2014, Hahn, T., Kondratenko, E.V., Linke, D.

The kind of surface MoOX structures on Al2O3–SiO2 was found to determine propene selectivity in the metathesis of ethylene and 2-butene. Compared to isolated tetrahedral MoOX species, their polymerized octahedral counterparts show significantly lower activity for isomerisation of 2- to 1-butene thus hindering non-selective metathesis of these butenes. In addition, they reveal higher ability to engage ethylene in propene formation.