Single-stage liquid-phase synthesis of methyl isobutyl ketone under mild conditions

Abstract

In this study, a catalyst mixture of activated Mg/Al hydrotalcite as solid base and Pd on carbon nanofibers was investigated for the single-stage liquid-phase synthesis of methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) from acetone and H2 at 313 K and H2 pressures of 1–20 bar. With this catalyst system acetone and H2 are selectively converted into MIBK in a single reactor, even at 1.2 bar H2. Although the hydrogenation of one of the intermediates, mesityl oxide (MO), at 1.2 bar suffers from severe mass transfer limitations in H 2, the catalytic activity in the single-stage synthesis is stable over several hours if the steady-state concentration of MO is kept low. Under the presented conditions the dehydration reaction of diacetone alcohol to MO is rate limiting in the production of MIBK. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.