Studies on supported triflic acid in alkylation

A thermally stable solid acid catalyst has been prepared by treating amorph ous silica gel with trifluoromethanesulphonic (triflic) acid (TFA) at 150 d egreesC in a closed glass vessel. A solvent such as 1,1,2-trichloro-2,2,1-t rifluoro-ethane (Freon 113) can be conveniently used to dissolve TFA. The o btained material is an active catalyst in the alkylation of isobutane with n-butenes to yield high-octane gasoline components. In the reaction it beha ves like a truly solid catalyst not leaching TFA in the solution for about 24 h. The catalyst characterisation has been performed by H-1- and (19)-F-N MR and IR spectroscopy. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.