Homogeneous metathesis for the production of propene from butene Original Research Article

The cross-metathesis of 1-butene and 2-butene is described for the production of propene and 2-pentene using Phobcat, a homogeneous Grubbs first generation-type catalyst bearing 9-cyclohexyl-9-phosphabicyclo-[3.3.1]-nonane as ligand. In a closed system at 20 bar and 50 °C, the reaction mixture composition at different 1-butene:2-butene feed ratios is in fair agreement with the calculated composition at equilibrium based on thermodynamic data. Compared to heterogeneous metathesis over a WO3/SiO2 catalyst, the homogeneous reaction exhibits better reaction control and selectivity to the desired products.