Selective conversion of allyl alcohol to oxygenates and hydrocarbons using ion exchanged zeolite Y

Abstract

The reaction of allyl alcohol using zeolite Y as catalyst has been investigated and it is shown that it can be converted into a range of products, including hydrocarbons, acrolein and diallyl ether. Control of product selectivity can be achieved by careful selection and manipulation of the charge balancing cation, a series of catalysts can be prepared which, for the conversion of allyl alcohol, lead almost exclusively to the initial formation of either (a) C2-C6 hydrocarbons and coke (H-NaY), (b) acrolein (H-CsY), (c) propene (Li-NaY) or (d) diallyl ether (Cs-NaY). The effects of addition of H2 and H2O to the reactant are described and discussed with respect to the reaction mechanism and the reaction of potential intermediates (2-propanol and propene oxide) is also described. Mechanisms of formation of the major products are proposed that involve the concerted action of Bronsted acid and basic sites within the zeolite. In particular, since the addition of H2O does not affect the product distribution, it is considered that the mechanism of hydrocarbon formation does not involve the allyl cation as an intermediate.