Non-conventional oxidation catalysis

The remarkable selectivity obtained in propane oxygenation on earth-alkali-modified zeolite Y at unusually low temperatures is due to the confinement of radicals in the cages of the zeolite, turning radical chemistry into stoichiometric chemistry. The second significant effect is the very effective stabilization of the resulting oxygenate, acetone, in the cage. However, the stabilization thus also implies extremely strong adsorption of the acetone, thus preventing desorption of the product. Our work indicates that desorption can be assisted by offering water as a competitive adsorbing species, thus opening the possibility to close the catalytic cycle.