Catalytic cracking of n-pentane and 1-pentene was investigated over MFI type zeolites. Brønsted acid sites (BAS) in proximity of extra-lattice Al were found to have an enhanced activity in cracking for both alkanes and alkenes. The effect is attributed to the stabilization of a later transition state. Intrinsic energetic barriers of alkene cracking were found to be comparable to that of alkane cracking. For adsorption of 2-pentene at 323 K formation of a stable pi-complex with BAS was observed for FER, whereas over MFI upon initial formation of a pi-complex subsequent slow dimerization was observed.
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