Green synthesis of propylene oxide directly from propane

Pierre Kube, Jinhu Dong, Nuria Sánchez Bastardo, Holger Ruland, Robert Schlögl, Johannes T. Margraf, Karsten Reuter and Annette Trunschke ()
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Pierre Kube: Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Department of Inorganic Chemistry
Jinhu Dong: Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Department of Inorganic Chemistry
Nuria Sánchez Bastardo: Max-Planck-Institut für Chemische Energiekonversion, Department of Heterogeneous Reactions
Holger Ruland: Max-Planck-Institut für Chemische Energiekonversion, Department of Heterogeneous Reactions
Robert Schlögl: Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Department of Inorganic Chemistry
Johannes T. Margraf: Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Theory Department
Karsten Reuter: Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Theory Department
Annette Trunschke: Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Department of Inorganic Chemistry

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The chemical industry faces the challenge of bringing emissions of climate-damaging CO2 to zero. However, the synthesis of important intermediates, such as olefins or epoxides, is still associated with the release of large amounts of greenhouse gases. This is due to both a high energy input for many process steps and insufficient selectivity of the underlying catalyzed reactions. Surprisingly, we find that in the oxidation of propane at elevated temperature over apparently inert materials such as boron nitride and silicon dioxide not only propylene but also significant amounts of propylene oxide are formed, with unexpectedly small amounts of CO2. Process simulations reveal that the combined synthesis of these two important chemical building blocks is technologically feasible. Our discovery leads the ways towards an environmentally friendly production of propylene oxide and propylene in one step. We demonstrate that complex catalyst development is not necessary for this reaction.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34967-2

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