Microwave irradiation assisted methoxylation of α-pinene using potassium alum [KAl(SO4)2] catalyst

Abstract

Methoxylation is a reaction to produce of ether compounds using methoxy ions. The α-pinene methoxylation using potassium alum catalyst was carried out using a microwave with power variations of 320, 480 and 640 W, mass of the catalyst 0.3; 0.6 and 0; 9 g, and mole ratio of reactants 1:15, 1:30 and 1:45 mole. Identification of the reaction results was performed using GC, GC-MS and FT-IR. The product obtained in α-pinene methoxylation is mirtenyl methyl ether (MME) and terpinyl methyl ether (TME). The conversion of α-pinene with the variation of 480 W microwave power, mass of catalyst 0.3 g and mole ratio of reactants 1:15 at 120 seconds was 99.82% with the selectivity of MME and TME were obtained 32.0 % and 1.4%, respectively.