Metal-alkyl species are formed on interaction of small alkanes with gallium oxide: Evidence from solid-state NMR

13C CP MAS NMR analysis of the products of the interaction of methane, ethane and propane with α-Ga2O3 or Ga-modified zeolite BEA at 523–623 K shows that dissociative adsorption of C1–C3 alkanes on the surface of gallium oxide or Ga-modified zeolite BEA results to the formation of Ga-methyl, Ga-ethyl and Ga-propyl species. This observation allows one to conclude that Ga-alkyls, rather than earlier suggested alkoxy species, could be the intermediates in small alkane dehydrogenation and aromatization on these catalysts.