CHIRALITY INVERSION IN MZSM-5 AND NAFION-H SOLID ACID-CATALYZED SYNTHESIS OF ETHERS FROM ALCOHOLS VIA SURFACE S(N)2 REACTION

A surfade-catalysed S(N)2 reaction is demonstrated for the dehydrative coupling of alcohols to form ethers over heterogeneous acid catalysts , HZSM-5 and Nafion-H, with shape-selectivity playing a major role in the case of HZSM-5 catalyst.