Dehydrogenation of ethylene and propylene and ethylene polymerization induced by titanium(1+) in the gas phase

The chemistry of multiple-step reactions of Ti + with ethylene and propylene was examined using a SIDT-LV apparatus (selected ion drift tube with laser vaporization source) at thermal energie. Bare Ti + exhibits an active dehydrogenation reactivity toward the alkene molecules. However, the coordination of ligands on Ti + dramatically alters its dehydrogenation reactivity. for propylene, the multiple-step reactions virtually terminate at the fourth step, whereas the reactions with ethylene molecule go far beyond the fourth step