Cyclobutanone, cyclobutylidene and oxo species on β-Mo2C

The adsorption and dissociation of cyclobutanone on a β-Mo2C foil was studied using RAIRS, XPS and TPD. Adsorption at 105 K populates η1 and η2 states in a 5:1 ratio. Heating to 170–300 K causes scission of the carbonyl bond and the development of RAIRS spectra characteristic of a cyclobutylidene–oxo surface complex. This dissociation chemistry is compared to literature data for the interaction of ketones with a single-metal atom tungsten complex.