Fe-TUD-1 for the preferential rupture of the substituted CC bond of methylcyclopentane (MCP)

Fe-TUD-1 catalysts with Si/Fe ratios of 85, 65 and 45 were prepared via hydrothermal one-pot synthesis. The samples were characterized by XRD, N2 physisorption, UV–vis and XPS spectroscopies, which show the incorporation of Fe3 + in tetrahedral coordination. The ability of these catalysts was tested by examining the conversion of the reaction of methylcyclopentane (MCP) with hydrogen at atmospheric pressure and temperatures between 200 and 400 °C. The active sites, tetrahedrally coordinated Fe and isolated atomic Fe sites, were responsible for the endocyclic CC bond rupture between substituted secondary-tertiary carbon atoms, while the small clusters serve as active sites for the successive CC bond rupture.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Isolated atomic Fe sites were responsible for the n-H selectivity. ► The endocyclic C–C bond rupture was between secondary-tertiary carbon atoms. ► Among the ring-opening products, n-H was formed exclusively.