CATALYTIC CONDENSATION OF ISOQUINOLINE INTO PITCH IN HIGHER YIELD IN THE PRESENCE OF NITRO SOLVENTS

Yield, structure, and properties of nitrogen containing pitches prepar ed catalytically from isoquinoline by the use of AlCl3-co-catalyst (ni troethane, nitobenzene) system were studied to increase the yield and nitrogen content of such pitches as a precursor for speciality carbon. Nitroethane(NE) and nitrobenzene(NB) as the co-catalyst increased the yield of the pitch up to 52% compared to 11% without the co-catalyst. The yield, insoluble content, softening point, molecular weight and n itrogen content increased with the amount of co-catalyst. Behaviour of nitrogen atoms and the properties of pitches thus prepared during the carbonization were also investigated. Coke provided from isoquinoline pitches prepared with NB exhibited a higher yield, more complete opti cal isotropy and retained more nitrogen than that prepared with NE. Th e coke produced at 600 degrees C from the former pitch exhibited a hig h basicity of 0.22 mmol/g due to a higher nitrogen content (5.2 matom/ g) than that from the pitch prepared without the co-catalyst. The role s of the nitro compounds are discussed in terms of the oligomeric cons titution of the pitch and the relation of its structure to its carboni zation properties.