ZEOLITE CATALYZED RING-OPENING OF STYRENE OXIDE

Activation of styrene oxide for ring opening reactions has been achiev ed over acidic forms of zeolites possessing two dimensional intersecti ng channels of different sizes (HZSM-5 and HZSM-35), as well as over t wo silver modifications of the latter. Zeolite type Beta has been test ed for determining the influence of the channel structure to the react ions' selectivity. Selective formation of 2-phenylethanol on HZSM-35 h as been observed. On the silver modifications of zeolite ZSM-35 signif icant quantities of phenylacetic acid have been determined together wi th the expected product 2-phenylethanol.