Selective synthesis of α-olefins by dehydration of fatty alcohols over alumina-thoria mixed catalysts

The selective and high-yield production of alpha-olefins by alcohol dehydration is challenging because the isomerization and polymerization olefin products are more thermodynamically stable. In this study, we prepared a physical mixture of nano-sized alumina (Al2O3n) and thoria (ThO2) with high efficiency and selectivity towards the production of alpha-olefins from stearic alcohol (100% conversion, 92% yield of alpha-olefin, rate: 2.925 mmol g(-1) h(-1), solvent: dodecane, 300 degrees C). To the best of our knowledge, this is the most efficient system developed for fatty alpha-olefin production from fatty alcohols, as compared to literature. Dehydration experiments of cis- and trans-2-methyl cyclohexanol over Al2O3n revealed the reaction to proceed by anti-elimination, which was favored by the abundance of Lewis acidic sites (LAS, 0.457 mmol g(-1)) and Lewis basic sites (LBS, 0.567 mmol g(-1)) on the porous surface of Al2O3n. LAS adsorbed and eliminated the hydroxyl groups (-OH) of stearic alcohol, generating a carbonium ion (carbocation) intermediate, which was subsequently, converted to the alkene as final products over the LBS. However, the selectivity and yield of alpha-olefin were comparatively low over pure Al2O3n due to the formation of isomeric olefin products. Interestingly, the addition of ThO2 increased yield of alpha-olefin up to 92% owing to the strong adsorption of this compound on the catalytic surface at high temperatures (300 degrees C), as evidenced by in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)-ethylene adsorption analyses. Consequently, ThO2 hindered the undesired isomerization and oligomerization of alpha-olefin taking place over LAS, thereby enhancing the yield of alpha-olefin products.