Ethylcyclopentane ring opening reaction over PtGe/Al2O3 catalysts prepared by controlled surface reaction

Platinum-germanium catalysts supported on a non-acidic Al2O3 have been prepared by adding Ge in amounts corresponding nominally to 1/8 (PtGe1/8/Al2O3); 1/2 (PtGe1/2/Al2O3); 1 (PtGe1/Al2O3) and 2 (PtGe2/Al2O3) monolayers by controlled surface reaction of Ge(n-C4H9)4 to Pt/Al2O3. These catalysts were characterized by electron microscopy (TEM), FTIR of CO adsorption and H2 chemisorption. The ring opening of ethylcyclopentane (ECP) was studied as a test reaction between 543 and 633 K. PtGe1/8/Al2O3 catalyst produced the most ring opening products (ROP) in the whole temperature range. A good agreement with statistical values of ROP was observed at low temperature, but at higher temperature, the opening became selective, producing mostly heptane. Bimetallic catalysts PtGe1/Al2O3 and PtGe2/Al2O3 led to a nonselective hydrogenolysis, similar to the monometallic platinum catalyst Pt/Al2O3. The catalysts PtGe1/Al2O3 and PtGe2/Al2O3 produced ROP with the lowest selectivity; instead, much aromatics and fragments were formed, in increasing amounts above 600 K.