ALKYLATION OF NAPHTHALENE WITH T-BUTYL AL COHOL USING PILLARED CLAY CATALYSTS

Alumina or zirconia pillared fluorotetrasilicic mica and montmorilloni te were used as catalysts for the alkylation of naphthalene with t-but yl alcohol, and their catalytic activity and selectivity for the forma tion of 2,6-di-t-butylnaphthalene were studied. In comparison with sil ica-alumina and KY zeolite, the pillared clays gave high yield of di-t -butylnaphthalenes. Selectivity for the formation of 2,6-di-t-butylnap hthalene is correlated well with selectivity for adsorption of 2,6-di- t-butylnaphthalene, indicating that selective formation of 2,6-isomer may be attributed to molecular sieving effect of pillared clays.