HZSM-5-CATALYZED SHAPE-SELECTIVE FORMATION OF DIACETATES

This paper describes the preparation of diacetates from aromatic and a liphatic aldehydes and acetic anhydride under ambient conditions using HZSM-5 catalyst. The initial rate and overall yield are less with ort ho-substituted than with para-substituted aromatic aldehydes, indicati ng shape selectivity. Also, rates are very low with cyclohexyl and 2-e thylhexyl aldehydes when compared with n-hexyl, indicating that the re action is controlled by the size of the molecule. Sizes of the aldehyd es and their corresponding diacetates were estimated by molecular mode ling and graphics technique and were compared with the size of the zeo lite cage. The initial rate of reaction was a function of the size of the aldehydes and their corresponding diacetates, as estimated by the modeling technique.