Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Investigating Single Molecule Adhesion by Atomic Force Spectroscopy
Published on: February 27, 2015
Identification of an adsorption complex between an alkane and zeolite active sites
Matthew J Truitt1, Stan S Toporek, Rosimar Rovira-Hernandez
1Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 8204, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8204, USA.
Abstract:
Direct observation of the Bronsted acid site signal in an active zeolite catalyst following adsorption of stoichiometric quantities of isobutane reveals the presence of a specific adsorption complex. Independent polarization transfer experiments in which magnetization originates with either the catalyst or the adsorbed isobutane confirm this assignment. The initial steps in alkane reactivity are poorly defined, and this experimentally verified complex is proposed as a route to C-H bond activation in solid acids.
Related Concept Videos
¹³C NMR: Distortionless Enhancement by Polarization Transfer (DEPT)
Tagging and Fusion Proteins
Affinity Chromatography

