GAS-PHASE PHENYL ACETATE CONVERSION ON ALPO4, GAMMA-AL2O3 AND SIO2 CATALYSTS

The conversion of phenyl acetate over AlPO4 (Al/P=1), gamma-Al2O3 and SiO2 catalysts generated phenol, by deacetylation, and o-hydroxyacetop henone, by Fries rearrangement, as the main reaction products. The act ivity for Fries rearrangement was in accordance with the acidity data measured versus cyclohexene skeletal isomerization. Thus, AlPO4 showed the highest activity. Moreover, o-hydroxy-acetophenone formation incr eased with the reaction temperature. Besides, in AlPO4 catalysts 4-met hylcoumarin and 2-methylchromone were also found, although in low amou nts.