ABSTRACT
Copper aluminum borate is the fundamental material in a new family of nonoxidative heterogeneous dehydrogenation and dehydrocyclization catalysts. Materials based on this structure are new compositions of matter and possess a novel crystal structure. The pure crystalline material is the catalytically active species; the divalent lattice copper may undergo partial reduction during dehydrogenations, depending on the reaction type and conditions. Based on current evidence, the active site is located at the square planar oxygen and neighboring metals. Dehydrogenations of alkylaromatics and alcohols over metal aluminum borates have also been previously reported. Dehydrogenation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones, important intermediates in polymers and fine chemicals, has advantages for large-volume synthesis because there are no problems due to heavy-metal contamination, use of co-oxidants, recovery of homogeneous catalysts, or overoxidation.
