FRIES REARRANGEMENT OVER ZEOLITIC CATALYSTS

The Fries rearrangement of phenyl acetate, p-tolyl acetate and phenyl benzoate was investigated using the H-form of various zeolites as cata lysts. Experiments were carried out in batch reactors at 453 K and for phenyl acetate at several temperatures both in liquid phase and in ga s phase in a continuous reactor. Product distribution and catalyst dea ctivation were strongly dependent on zeolite structure. Deactivation o f external acidic sites enhanced the yield of para products and improv ed the selectivity of catalysts based on ZSM-5 and ZSM-12.