The hydrogenation of allene. III. The reaction of allene with hydrogen catalyzed by nickel, copper, and their alloys

Abstract

The reaction between allene and hydrogen over unsupported nickel, copper, and their alloys has been investigated in a static constant volume system between 26 and 131 °C for a wide reactant ratios. The orders of reaction with respect to hydrogen and allene were one and zero, respectively, and temperature independent. The reaction over metals and their alloys is largely simple hydrogenation, the early stages being principally a selective formation of propylene, with small yields of reduced polymers of allene. The overall activation energies varied between 4.8 and 11.8 kcal/g-mole. Selectivity was highest with copper and least with nickel. The amount of allene polymerized was not related in any particular way to the copper content of alloy.