Partial Oxidation of Propane: Single-Site Pd/γ-Al2O3 Catalysts

The paper proposes a method for synthesizing a heterogeneous catalyst that contains single Pd sites on γ-Al2O3 surface. This method involves preliminary heterogenization of a Pd complex with a hydroxyquinone (e.g., alizarin) on the γ-Al2O3 surface, followed by hydrogenolysis of the Pd–alizarin bond, reduction of Pd(II) into Pd(0), and removal of alizarin. The catalyst was examined by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) and tested in propane oxidation into key petrochemicals. During the test, the catalyst exhibited high activity (242 mol of the product per g-at Pd per hour).