Catalytic Disproportionation of Unsaturated Hydrocarbons

The review considers the data at present available on the disproportionation reaction of olefins. The practical value of this versatile reaction, which opens up new pathways for synthesis of a wide variety of unsaturated hydrocarbons, is noted. The applications of the reaction to dienes and acetylenes are also considered.
Studies using various heterogeneous disproportionation catalysts have been described, together with simple process parameters (catalyst activity, temperature, pressure, etc).
Much attention has been devoted to the applications of homogeneous catalytic systems in the disproportionation of olefins and to the characteristics which distinguish them from heterogeneous catalysts. Problems concerned with the reaction mechanism and its stereochemical features are discussed.
The bibliography includes 92 references.