Alkenes, dehydrogenated sequentially

The dependence of selectivity for dehydrogenation on the conversion of alkane shows that for the more selective catalysts known, the reaction proceeds with a sequential mechanism. The first step of the reaction is the breaking of a C—H bond of the alkane molecule, which is also the rate-limiting step. For these more selective catalysts, alkene is the primary product. Therefore, high selectivities can be obtained at low conversions. However, as the conversion increases, the selectivity decreases because of the secondary reaction of the alkene. The rate constant for the reaction of the alkene on the most selective catalyst is still about the same in magnitude as the rate constant for the activation of alkane. It is larger for the less selective catalysts. Thus the maximum yield of alkene among the catalysts known to date is still less than about 35%. To improve this yield, catalysts that react with alkene less rapidly than with alkane need to be found. 

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