A new heterogeneous olefin metathesis catalyst composed of rhenium oxide and mesoporous alumina

Rhenium oxide finely dispersed on mesoporous alumina with uniform pore size of 3 nm in diameter and large specific surface area of 560 m(2)/g was found to be a more active and selective catalyst for liquid-phase metathesis reactions of not only terminal but also inner olefins than rhenium oxide on normal gamma-alumina with random pore structure. 7 wt% Re2O7 on mesoporous alumina transforms 1-octene and 7-hexadecene into their equilibrium composition of metathesis products at low temperatures more smoothly and selectively than 7 wt% Re2O7 on normal gamma-alumina. The catalysis of Re2O7 loaded on mesoporous alumina was discussed. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.