Weiguo Song, D. M. Marcus, H. Fu
Mar 21, 2002
Citations
1
Influential Citations
241
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Quality indicators
Journal
Journal of the American Chemical Society
Abstract
Using highly purified reagents and careful tests, we show that methanol and dimethyl ether are apparently unreactive on the two most important methanol-to-hydrocarbon catalysts, HZSM-5 and HSAPO-34. Thus, none of the "direct" mechanisms involving two to four carbon atoms in intermediates such as oxonium ylides, carbenes, carbocations, and free radicals are applicable. Only the "indirect" route (hydrocarbon pool) is an established mechanism for this chemistry. An active catalyst requires a hydrocarbon pool that typically begins with products from organic impurities in the feed, carrier gas, or the solid acid itself. Impurities may also play important roles in other reactions catalyzed by solid acids.