Catalytic synthesis of thiophene from the reaction of n-butanol and carbon disulfide over K2CO3-promoted Cr2O3/γ-alumina catalyst

Abstract

The synthesis of thiophene from the reaction of n-Butanol and carbon disulfide was performed in a fixed-bed reactor in the presence of promoted chromia on γ-alumina. A high selectivity to thiophene (87%) and a long lifetime of the catalyst (55 hour) was obtained at 450 °C with a 1: 6 n-Butanol to carbon disulfide molar ratio and LHSV 1 h−1 over γ-Al2O3 promoted by 7% K2CO3 with 15% Cr2O3 loaded. The catalytic behavior of these catalysts can be attributed to their dual-functional acidity and dehydrogenating and cyclized properties.