Hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde over carbon‐supported molybdenum nitrides

Abstract

The gas‐phase hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde has been performed over unsupported Mo₂N and over Mo₂N supported on two carbonaceous materials, an activated carbon (AC) and a high surface area graphite (G). These catalysts were in situ prepared by the temperature‐programmed reaction of MoO₃ and carbon‐supported Mo precursors with NH₃. It is found that selectivity to the unsaturated alcohol is maximum for the Mo₂N/G sample, where crotylalcohol selectivities exceed the 60% during all time in reaction. Higher selectivity surface sites are associated with the (200) planes of the γ‐Mo₂N crystallites.