ON THE POLYFUNCTIONAL NATURE OF (VO)2P2O7

The catalytic behavior of vanadyl pyrophosphate in the conversion of decalin, tetrahydro phthalic anhydride, naphthalene, 3-methyl tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, and benzene is reported in order to evidence some basic key catalytic properties of this catalyst and to discuss the possible surface pathways in the synthesis of phthalic anhydride from n-pentane, a characteristic specific catalytic property of this system. © 1990 J.C. Baltzer A.G. Scientific Publishing Company.