Dehydrocyclization of Diphenylamine to Carbazole over Platinum-Based Bimetallic Catalysts

Gas phase dehydrocyclization of diphenylamine (DPA) to carbazole over monometallic and bimetallic 0.4 wt% Pt-based catalysts in a fixed bed reactor was studied in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature of 550 ^oC. Alumina and carbon supported Pt catalysts showed very high initial activity (> 95%). The selectivity for carbazole over carbon supported Pt catalysts was slightly lower. Doping of the catalyst with potassium led to an increase in the selectivity for carbazole by 15%. Bimetallic Pt-Sn catalysts prepared by co-impregnation were less selective than catalysts prepared by successive impregnation. The selectivity for carbazole over bimetallic Pt-Sn catalysts prepared by successive impregnation was 75%, but their activity decreased with increased Sn loading. Highly active and reasonably selective catalysts were Ir-doped bimetallic Pt-based catalysts. The conversion of diphenylamine over Pt-Ir catalysts was above 98% and the selectivity for carbazole was nearly 55%, while the lifetime was much longer.