Production of Propylene from 1-Butene on Highly Active “Bi-Functional Single Active Site” Catalyst: Tungsten Carbene-Hydride Supported on Alumina

1-Butene is transformed in a continuous flow reactor over tungsten hydrides precursor W–H/Al2O3, 1, giving a promising yield into propylene at 150 °C and different pressures. Tungsten carbene-hydride single active site operates as a “bi-functional catalyst” through 1-butene isomerization on W-hydride and 1-butene/2-butenes cross-metathesis on W-carbene. This active moiety is generated in situ at the initiation steps by insertion of 1-butene on tungsten hydrides precursor W–H/Al2O3, 1 followed by α-H and β-H abstraction.