Determination of the active site and mechanism for alkene isomerization in CuII exchanged Y-type zeolite

Reactions of CD2CH—CH3, but-1-ene and 3,3-dimethylbut-1-ene have been studied over a Y-type zeolite containing ∼4 CuII per unit cell. Kinetic induction periods, associated with the generation of active sites by CuII reduction, were only observed for the deuterium redistribution reactions of CD2CH—CH3. Nevertheless, arguments are presented to show that such generation of active sites is central to alkene isomerization reactions over CuII exchanged X- and Y-type zeolites. The mechanism of alkene isomerization is shown to require carbonium ions, generated from protons produced following CuII reduction by the alkene.