OXIDATIVE DEHYDROGENATION OF ROSALVA TO COSTENAL ON SUPPORTED SILVER CATALYSTS

The synthesis of costenal (dec-9-enal) was achieved by oxidative dehyd rogenation of rosalva (dec-9-en-1-ol) on silicon carbide supported sil ver catalysts (4.5% Ag/SiC) at 450 degrees C in a flow reactor. The su bstrate was vapourized in a stream of oxygen diluted with 25 volumes o f nitrogen (flow rate 140-650 1 h(-1)). The optimum oxygen to substrat e ratio was ca. 1.5. The highest costenal yield (51%) was obtained at 70% conversion as the contact time of the gas flow with the catalyst w as the shortest (0.028 s). The activity was stable for a period of 96 h on stream. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.