abstract |
Alkenes and/or alkadienes are contacted with molecular oxygen and an oxidative dehydrogenation catalyst consisting essentially of phosphorus, molybdenum, cobalt and oxygen, wherein the atom ratio of phosphorus to molybdenum is in the range of about 0.5:1 to about 5:1 and the atom ratio of cobalt to molybdenum is in the range of about 0.1:1 to about 3:1, to produce furan compounds. |