Selective Synthesis of Propylene Via Homologation of Ethylene with Dimethyl Ether at Low Temperatures on Zeolites

In the light of the faster growing propene versus ethene demand, ethene homologation with methanol or dimethyl ether shows to be a promising pathway. The route may offer a cost competitive solution for synthesis of biopropylene from bio-ethylene and renewable MeOH. The reaction is catalyzed by conventional zeolite topologies, viz. MFI, TON, CHA. Selection of low temperature-low conversion conditions, allowed for an extended period of time to achieve 100% propene selectivity for several medium pore H-zeolites. Use of singly C-13 labeled ethene in the homologation with DME allowed to establish the pathways of propene formation. Separate homologation reactions of singly labeled propene with DME over the same H-zeolites, shows selective n-butenes formation.