Solid acid catalysis using ion-exchange resins

Abstract

In this review article, we describe the use of commercially available polymeric ion-exchange resins for a range of industrially important transformations. Recent developments both on the materials design and applications will be described. Examples of high catalytic activity will be described in areas ranging from alkylation, transalkylation, isomerization, oligomerization, acylation, esterification and nitration. The two main classes of ion-exchange resins are based upon styrene-based sulfonic acids (Amberlyst ® and Dow type resins), which show very high activity in the areas of esterification and etherification, to the perfluorosulfonic acid-based catalysts including the recently developed Nafion ® resin/silica nanocomposites. These show very high activity in the area of linear alkyl benzene formation, isomerization, and some select acylation type chemistries. These new types of catalysts (which have been used commercially) are adding to the ever-growing portfolio of highly active solid acid catalysts, which couple both economic and environmental drivers to improve organic transformations within the chemical industry.