SELECTIVE ISOMERIZATION OF ISOPHORONE OXIDE OVER ZEOLITES

Ring-contracted main product formed by isomerization of isophorone oxi de (1) is 2-formyl-2,4,4-trimethylcyclopentanone (2); a high yield of (2) could be achieved by use of zeolites as heterogeneous catalysts. T he reaction could be carried out in a discontinuous liquid-phase batch reactor as well as in a continuous vapor-phase fixed-bed reactor. The formation of (4) by decarbonylation of (2) could be reduced by increa sing the catalyst loading or by carrying out the reaction under short contact time in gas phase conditions.