Catalytic property of Europium supported on alumina from its ammoniacal solution

Europium supported on alumina (Eu/Al2O3) was prepared by impregnation from an ammoniacal solution of the metal. The catalytic activity of Eu/Al2O3 for the isomerization of 2,3-dimethylbut-1-ene to 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene was examined. Eu/Al2O3 showed the highest catalytic activity for the isomerization when heated under a vacuum at 523 K, the yield of 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene in 20 min being 81.6% at 314 K. IR spectrum shows the presence of two kinds of Eu amides. The change of the IR spectra and the catalytic activities with evacuation temperature suggest that only one of the two Eu amides is catalytically active for this base-catalyzed isomerization.