Theoretical ab initio study of the vinylcarbene-CuO complex: application to last step of the propylene partial oxidation mechanism on Cu2O

Abstract Using non-empirical pseudopotentials, we have performed a theoretical study on the last step of the propylene partial oxidation mechanism, the acrolein desorption from the catalyst surface. To represent the catalyst we have used a simplified model of a catalyst active site. We have study the C 3 H 4 CuO complex, analysing the dissociation process of the oxygenated complex from a metallic centre. The results indicate that this complex dissociates into cis - and trans -acrolein and a metal site, in a process without energetic barrier.