RATE ENHANCING EFFECT OF CARBON-DIOXIDE IN THE REACTION OF ACETONITRILE WITH METHANOL TO ACRYLONITRILE OVER MAGNESIUM-OXIDE CATALYST

Carbon dioxide greatly enhanced the formation rate of acrylonitrile in the gas-phase reaction of acetonitrile with methanol over magnesium o xide catalyst. The reaction in the presence of carbon dioxide was acco mpanied by the reaction of methanol with carbon dioxide to give carbon monoxide and water. An adsorbed carbon dioxide species on the basic s urface of magnesium oxide seems to afford an active methanol-derived s pecies for the reaction with acetonitrile.