| abstract |
A mixed basic metal oxide catalyst having the formula: nxA.yB.zC.qO nwherein A is an alkali metal selected from lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium; B is a cation which has an ionization state 1 greater than the ionization state of C; B is selected from scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, actinium, aluminum, boron and mixtures thereof when C is selected from beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, radium, zinc, cadmium, mercury and mixtures thereof and B is selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, silicon and mixtures thereof when C is selected from scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, actinium, aluminum, boron and mixtures thereof; x and y are in mole fractions of z such that when z=1 then x=0.002 to 0.25, and y=0.001 to 0.25; and q is a number necessary to maintain charge balance with O being oxygen. n The catalyst is useful for oxidative coupling of methane and aliphatic and alicyclic hydrocarbon compounds with an aromatic compound to produce higher molecular weight hydrocarbons; and for dehydrogenating hydrocarbon compounds to produce unsaturated aliphatic and alicyclic chains. |