Reactivity of n-butene isomers over a multicomponent bismuth molybdate (Co9Fe3Bi1Mo12O51) catalyst in the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene

Oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene isomers to 1,3-butadiene was carried out over a multicomponent bismuth molybdate (Co9Fe3Bi1Mo12O51) catalyst. The yield for 1,3-butadiene over the catalyst decreased in the order of 1-butene > mixture of 1-butene and 2-butene > 2-butene. The oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butene to 1,3-butadiene favorably occurred with increasing 1-butene content, while the total oxidation of n-butene to CO2 was promoted with increasing 2-butene content. It is believed that the Co9Fe3Bi1Mo12O51 catalyst retained more selective oxygen species for the reaction with 1-butene than for the reaction with 2-butene, leading to the facile oxidative dehydrogenation of 1-butene to 1,3-butadiene.