Beta hydride abstraction

Lewis acid sites have empty orbitals able to accept electron density from the occupied orbitals of a Lewis base, in parallel with back-donation from the catalyst to the empty anti-bonding orbitals of the base [33]. This interaction leads to the formation of an activated acid-base adduct. In the case of alkanes activation may proceed by hydride abstraction [38]. Y and Beta are good examples of zeolites with Lewis acidity, often quite significant for catalysis [39, 40]. 

Moreau et al.56 obtained unexpected results in the alkylation of naphtalene with 2-propanol over H-Beta in the liquid phase at 200°C. Here a cyclic compound 1 was formed with a selectivity around 40% at 28.5% conversion. When applying HY as the catalyst alkylation to di- and trialkylnaphthalenes was faster but the cyclic compound was not observed. These results illustrate the more confined space within the zeolites Beta channels. The cyclic compound is assumed to be formed through iso-propylation of naphthalene followed by a hydride abstraction giving a carbenium ion, reaction with a propylene and finally ring-closure. 

An isopropyl carbocation cannot experience a beta fission (no C-C bond beta to the carbon with the positive charge).It may either abstract a hydride ion from another hydrocarbon, yielding propane, or revert back to propene by eliminating a proton. This could explain the relatively higher yield of propene from catalytic cracking units than from thermal cracking units. 

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