Selective and unexpected transformations of 2-methylpropane to 2,3-dimethylbutane and 2-methylpropene to 2,3-dimethylbutene catalyzed by an alumina-supported tungsten hydride

Abstract

2-Methylpropane and 2-methylpropene, in the presence of the W(H) 3/Al2O3 catalyst, are unexpectedly transformed to 2,3-dimethylbutane and 2,3-dimethylbutenes, respectively, with high selectivity; in case of 2-methylpropane, this reaction represents the first example of the transfer of two carbons in alkane metathesis. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2009.