Method for the depositon of metals on support oxides

A process for the preparation of highly dispersed transition metal or metals deposited on refractory oxides and mixtures thereof, comprising the steps of:

• i) without using a solvent providing a dry intimate mixture of a refractory oxide selected from the group consisting of Aluminas, heteroatom doped transition Aluminas, Silica, Ceria, Zirconia, Ceria-Zirconia based solution, Lanthanum oxide, Magnesia, Titania, Tungsten oxide and mixtures thereof;
• with one or more precursor compound or compounds comprising a complex formed out of a transition metal and ligands, the complex decomposing to yield the metal or metal ion at temperatures between 100° C. and 500° C.;
• and
• which has a structure of formula I:
• ML1mL2n (I),
• wherein:
• M is a metal chosen from the group mentioned above.
• L1 is carbonyl, amine, alkene, arene, phosphine or other neutral coordinating ligand;
• L2 is acetate, alkoxy or advantageously embraces a diketonate, ketoiminato or related member of this homologous series like a ligand of formula II:
• wherein:
• R1 and R2 are independently alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, acyl and substituted acyl;
• and
• in formula I, m can be a number ranging from 0 to 6, a may take a number equal to the valence of M and m+n is not less than 1;
• and
• ii) calcining the mixture without reduced pressure and without the presence of specific reaction gases at a temperature of 200° C.-650° C. and a time sufficient to decompose the metal precursor;
• and—
• iii) obtaining the supported oxide.