Friedel-Crafts alkylation of benzene with benzyl alcohol over H-MCM-22

Abstract

Abstract MCM-22 was synthesized by using silicic acid powder as a silica source under the static hydrothermal condition and characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia. The liquid phase benzylation of benzene with benzyl alcohol to diphenylmethane was investigated over H-MCM-22. The effects of reaction parameters on the conversion of benzyl alcohol and product distribution were determined. Under optimal reaction conditions, diphenylmethane yield of 92.1% was achieved for 99.3% conversion of benzyl alcohol in 3 h of reaction period. The reusability of the catalyst was also investigated after calcination of the catalyst in stagnant air at 500 °C for 4 h. The results show that the organic species produced during the reaction deposited in the catalyst lead to the deactivation of the catalyst and the calcination of the deactivated catalyst causes catalyst dealumination.