Sp. Ghorpade et al., LIQUID-PHASE FRIEDEL-CRAFTS ALKYLATION USING CUCR2-XFEXO4 SPINEL CATALYSTS, Applied catalysis. A, General, 166(1), 1998, pp. 135-142
Iron oxide (Fe2O3) offers Lewis acidic sites for alkylation but gives
low yield and cannot be reused. Therefore, spinels belonging to system
CuCr2-xFexO4 were prepared by isomorphic substitution of octahedral c
hromium by iron in the spinel lattice. These were found to have better
catalytic activity for the liquid phase alkylation of benzene with be
nzyl chloride giving diphenylmethane. CuFe2O4 gives the highest yield.
The Lewis acidity of the catalysts is mainly responsible for the good
catalyst performance. The ease of electron movement appears to improv
e the yields. The propel ties of these catalysts were characterized by
using DRIFT spectroscopy. The effects of various parameters on the ca
talytic reaction have been investigated. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V
.