A Bifunctional Mechanism for Ethene Dimerization: Catalysis by Rhodium Complexes on Zeolite HY in the Absence of Halides

[EN] No ligands needed: Rhodium complexes supported on HY zeolite catalyze the formation of C[BOND]C bonds by a new mechanism involving cooperation between the metal species and Brønsted acid sites of the zeolite support (see picture). The catalyst operates in the absence of ligands such as halides and shows high selectivity to n-butenes, even in an excess of H2.