Hydrocarbon Chain Growth on V(100) Single‐Crystal Surfaces via Vinyl Intermediates

A four-step mechanism for thermal activation of methylene species on V(100) surfaces to generate propene is identified experimentally (see scheme). Dehydrogenation of methylene to methylidyne and coupling with another methylene group gives a vinyl intermediate, which reacts with a methylene group to form an allyl species, which is finally hydrogenated to propene. This provides evidence for the possible role of vinyl intermediates in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2008/z802338_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.