Highly active Si-MCM-41-Supported Ga2O3 and In2O3 catalysts for Friedel-Crafts-type benzylation and acylation reactions in the presence or absence ofmoisture
Vr. Choudhary et al., Highly active Si-MCM-41-Supported Ga2O3 and In2O3 catalysts for Friedel-Crafts-type benzylation and acylation reactions in the presence or absence ofmoisture, J CATALYSIS, 192(2), 2000, pp. 257-261
Ga2O3 and In2O3 (which are amphoteric and basic in nature, respectively) su
pported on mesoporous Si-MCM-41, or even on micro- or macroporous inert cat
alyst carriers, are highly active and reusable catalysts for the benzylatio
n of benzene and acylation of aromatic compounds, even in the presence of m
oisture. Moisture has a beneficial effect, more particularly for the acylat
ion reaction. It causes an increase in the reaction rates for both the reac
tions and also a large increase in the induction period for the benzylation
reaction but not for the acylation. The induction period is due to the pre
sence of moisture adsorbed on the catalyst, which is to be replaced by the
reactant(s) to start the catalytic reaction. (C) 2000 Academic Press.