CuO/ZrO2 co-promoted by ZnO, Sn, and CuP shows high efficiency for dimethyldichlorosilane production in the Rochow-Müller reaction

Multi-component promoters may efficiently improve the catalytic performance of the primary Cu-based catalysts in the Rochow-Müller reaction, but this approach is not well explored, and the roles of the promoters are not very clear. Herein, we report the ZrO2-supported CuO catalyst (CuO/ZrO2) modified with a co-promoter of ZnO, Sn, and CuP prepared by a simple dry ball-milling method. The co-promoter could significantly increase the amount of surface adsorbed oxygen and improve the reducing ability of catalysts, facilitating the formation of the active Cu3Si phase and further advancing dimethyldichlorosilane ((CH3)2SiCl2, M2) selectivity and Si conversion in the Rochow-Müller reaction. Compared to the state-of-the-art commercial catalyst, these CuO/ZrO2 catalysts with the co-promoters all showed enhanced catalytic activity. Especially, the CuO/ZrO2 catalyst with the co-existence of ZnO, Sn, and CuP promoters achieved the highest M2 selectivity and Si conversion, attributed to its most abundant surface adsorption oxygen and the strongest reducibility. This work opens up a new avenue to improve the catalytic activity of Cu-based catalysts for the Rochow-Müller reaction.