Microwave activation of catalytic transformation of t-butylphenols

Kinetics of catalytic transformation of 2- and 4-t-butylphenol (2TBP and 4T BP) in the liquid phase on a heterogeneous KSF catalyst has been studied in detail under conventional and microwave conditions. The process includes d ealkylation, isomerization and transalkylation reactions. Its kinetics has been described using the method of initial reaction rates. It was found tha t microwaves affect both the reaction rate and the selectivity. The results were explained in terms of "microwave-induced polarisation" assuming an in teraction of microwaves with a highly polarised reagent molecule in adsorbe d state on the acidic active site. Temperature and solvent effects were als o examined. The reaction mechanism of t-butylphenol transformation is discu ssed on the basis of electrophilic aromatic substitution via bimolecular re actions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.