Green synthesis of propylene oxide directly from propane.

The chemical industry faces the challenge of bringing emissions of climate-damaging CO₂ to zero. However, the synthesis of important intermediates, such as olefins or epoxides, is still associated with the release of large amounts of greenhouse gases. This is due to both a high energy input for many process steps and insufficient selectivity of the underlying catalyzed reactions. Surprisingly, we find that in the oxidation of propane at elevated temperature over apparently inert materials such as boron nitride and silicon dioxide not only propylene but also significant amounts of propylene oxide are formed, with unexpectedly small amounts of CO₂. Process simulations reveal that the combined synthesis of these two important chemical building blocks is technologically feasible. Our discovery leads the ways towards an environmentally friendly production of propylene oxide and propylene in one step. We demonstrate that complex catalyst development is not necessary for this reaction. Propylene and propylene oxide are formed over boron nitride or SiO₂ in the gas phase without yielding large amounts of CO₂. Conversion at non-specific interfaces can thus be a successful strategy for the synthesis of oxidation-sensitive products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]