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In the past two decades, the reaction mechanism of C−C bond formation from either methanol or dimethyl ether (DME) in the methanol-to-hydrocarbons (MTH) process has been a highly controversial issue. Described here is the first observation of a surface methyleneoxy analogue, originating from the surface-activated DME, by in situ solid-state NMR spectroscopy, a species crucial to the first C−C bond formation in the MTH process. New insights into the first C−C bond formation were provided, thus suggesting DME/methanol activation and direct C−C bond formation by an interesting synergetic mechanism, involving C−H bond breakage and C−C bond coupling during the initial methanol reaction within the chemical environment of the zeolite catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first carbon–carbon bond formation in the methanol to hydrocarbons (MTH) reaction over zeolite catalysts has been a highly controversial issue and has puzzled scientists for 30 years. In their Communication on page 9039 ff. Z. Liu, Y. Wei et al. propose a direct mechanism for the formation of the first C−C bond in the MTH reaction, based on the detection of the crucial intermediate, a surface methyleneoxy analogue species originating from activated DME or methanol, by in situ solid‐state NMR spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Der erste C ‐ C ‐ Verknüpfungsschritt bei der Umwandlung von Methanol in Kohlenwasserstoffe über Zeolithkatalysatoren wird seit 30 Jahren kontrovers diskutiert. In ihrer Zuschrift auf S. 9167 ff. schlagen Z. Liu, Y. Wei et al. einen Mechanismus für diesen Schritt vor. Ihr Postulat gründet auf dem Nachweis einer Methylenoxy ‐ analogen Oberflächenspezies, gebildet aus aktiviertem Dimethylether oder Methanol, durch In ‐ situ ‐ Festkörper ‐ NMR ‐ Spektroskopie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]