Metal oxide catalysts comprising various dopants are provided. The catalysts are useful as heterogenous catalysts in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane to C2 hydrocarbons such as ethane and ethylene. Related methods for use and manufacture of the same are also disclosed.

Processes, systems, and catalysts for the conversion of 2-butene to 1,3-butaidene without the use of steam or, in some embodiments, with a reduced use of steam as compared to prior art processes are provided. The catalyst includes tungsten trioxide (WO.sub.3) on an inorganic support includes activated magnesium oxide (MgO) and may be referred to as a dual catalyst or a co-catalyst. Embodiments of the catalyst. A process for the production of 1,3-butadiene may include contacting a feed stream of 2-butene with a WO.sub.3-inorganic support catalyst or a MgO and WO.sub.3-inorganic support catalyst and may be performed without steam in the feed stream.

The present invention relates to a process for obtaining an olefin by metathesis including the steps of i) feeding at least one stream with at least one olefin as starting material to at least one first reactor with at least one pre-bed having at least one compound selected from the group of alkaline earth oxides and ii) feeding the stream leaving the at least one first reactor to at least one second reactor downstream to the at least one first reactor including at least one main bed having a) at least one first catalyst component and b) at least one second catalyst component. The first and second catalyst are physically mixed with each other. The operational temperature of the at least one first reactor is lower than the operational temperature of the at least one second reactor.

Disclosed herein are processes for tandem alkene dehydrogenation/alkene dimerization using an iridium pincer complex catalyst on a support comprising magnesium silicates (e.g., Florisil). The reaction process comprises providing an iridium pincer complex bound to a solid support comprising magnesium silicates; providing a gaseous alkane feedstock comprising at least one alkane; and contacting the gaseous alkane feedstock with the iridium pincer complex bound to the solid support in the presence of a hydrogen acceptor to form dimerized alkenes. The processes disclosed herein can accomplish facile, low-temperature tandem transfer dehydrogenation of alkanes and dimerization of alkenes with unprecedented TONs at a reasonable rate of conversion.

Metal oxide catalysts comprising various dopants are provided. The catalysts are useful as heterogenous catalysts in a variety of catalytic reactions, for example, the oxidative coupling of methane to C2 hydrocarbons such as ethane and ethylene. Related methods for use and manufacture of the same are also disclosed.

Disclosed herein are processes for tandem alkene dehydrogenation/alkene dimerization using an iridium pincer complex catalyst on a support comprising magnesium silicates (e.g., Florisil). The reaction process comprises providing an iridium pincer complex bound to a solid support comprising magnesium silicates; providing a gaseous alkane feedstock comprising at least one alkane; and contacting the gaseous alkane feedstock with the iridium pincer complex bound to the solid support in the presence of a hydrogen acceptor to form dimerized alkenes. The processes disclosed herein can accomplish facile, low-temperature tandem transfer dehydrogenation of alkanes and dimerization of alkenes with unprecedented TONs at a reasonable rate of conversion.