Selective synthesis of isobutanol by means of the Guerbet reaction: Part 2. Reaction of methanol/ethanol and methanol/ethanol/n-propanol mixtures over copper based/MeONa catalytic systems

The synthesis of isobutanol via the Guerbet condensation between methanol and ethanol was studied by using sodium methoxide (MeONa) as soluble basic component and copper-based catalysts as heterogeneous dehydrogenating/hydrogenating metal species. The effect of the nature of the catalyst and the relative amount of its individual components with respect to the reacting alcohols as well as of temperature on productivity and selectivity of the process was investigated. The collected data indicated that the copper chromite/MeONa was more active than Cu-Raney/MeONa system. The reaction was shown to proceed with the formation only of n-propanol and isobutanol. Ethanol conversion up to 61% with selectivity to isobutanol up to 98.4% was obtained. The same catalytic systems were also employed in the reaction of the methanol/ethanol/n-propanol ternary mixture. Again copper chromite/MeONa resulted more active than the Cu-Raney/MeONa system. Finally, experiments were carried out on methanol/n-propanol mixtures in the presence of the copper chromite/MeONa catalytic system by recycling both the recovered solid copper component and the liquid reaction mixture for evidencing eventual copper leaching by MeONa. On the basis of the obtained results it was concluded that in the Guerbet reaction copper chromite works as heterogeneous catalyst.     

超临界相CO加氢合成甲醇,异丁醇的研究

以正十一～十三烷的混合物为超临界介质,在反应温度３６０～４１０℃、合成气压力７５ＭＰａ、进气空速１７００ｈ－１、介质压力１７８ＭＰａ、总压９３ＭＰａ的实验条件下,研究了固定床反应器中Ｚｎ－Ｃｒ、Ｃｕ－Ｚｎ－Ｃｒ催化剂在超临界相和气相条件下合成甲醇、异丁醇的性能。结果表明,超临界相反应的ＣＯ转化率高于气相反应。在超临界条件下反应,醇类选择性随着温度升高下降较慢,而气相反应醇类选择性随着温度升高下降较快。气相反应产物以甲醇、异丁醇为主,含少量乙醇和正丙醇,超临界相反应的产物分布与气相反应的明显不同,甲醇含量减少,乙醇、正丙醇和异丁醇都有不同程度增加。超临界流体的存在对合成醇链增长有影响,在不同催化剂上的产物分布有较大差异     

Effect of the introduction of certain additives to the CO + H2 mixture and the scheme for the formation of alcohols higher than C1

The effect of additions of certain alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, and 2-butanol) to the synthesis gas on the distribution of the products during the hydrogenation of CO to alcohols at zinc-chromium oxide catalysts, promoted by various amounts of K₂O, was studied. The results demonstrate the fundamental applicability of the principal theories of chain growth proposed by other authors for copper-containing catalysts. However, it was shown that the probability of -addition is lower while that of -addition is higher at the zinc-chromium-potassium catalysts than at copper-containing catalysts, and the calculated amounts of isobutanol obtained from the data for ethanol and propanols do not agree with the experimental data. It was found that there is an isomeric transition from the secondary alcohols (2-propanol, 2-butanol) to the primary alcohols at the surface of the catalyst, and this can evidently change the normal course of chain growth in the alcohols. It can be concluded that the activity of the alcohol added to synthesis gas in reaction with other C-fragments present on the surface of the catalyst increases with increase in the number of carbon atoms in the alcohol.Translated from Teoreticheskaya i Éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 501–505, July–August, 1990.     

Study of methanol and isobutanol coupling over acid catalysts

The coupling of methanol and isobutanol was carried out over selected acid catalysts. An amorphous silica-alumina, a zeolite and aluminas were tested as catalysts of the coupling. The correlation between the catalysts acidity and their activity and selectivity was studied. The catalytic tests were carried out in a fixed-bed flow microreactor working on line with a gas-chromatograph. The acidic properties of the catalysts were followed by IR studies of pyridine adsorption. The results obtained proved that the strength and the concentration of acid sites on the catalysts surface effected the alcohols conversion to ethers. It was found that the undesirable dehydration of isobutanol to isobutene was catalyzed by stronger acid sites than those required for the etherification reaction. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

醇类在芳烃溶剂中的缔合溶液热力学

用凝固点降低法测量了在C1-C4醇类的各异构物分别存在下, 苯和对二甲苯溶剂的活度系数γB。用Wiehe-Bagley(WB)模型对数据进行了处理, 得到各醇的自缔合常数KA及无限稀活度系数γA。在同一溶剂中, KA依下列顺序减小: 甲醇>乙醇>正丙醇>正丁醇; 正丙醇>异丙醇; 正丁醇>异丁醇>叔丁醇≥仲丁醇。各醇在对二甲苯中的KA均大于相应的在苯中的KA。     

复合床合成低碳醇的研究

采用了三种不同的合成醇催化剂分别作为第一段催化床层,以ＺｎＯ／Ｃｒ２Ｏ３催化剂作为第二段催化床层,研究了复合催化剂床对合成低碳醇反应行为的影响。结果表明,采用复合床层技术可以提高反应产物中低碳醇的选择性,但是烃类的转化率增加,液收减小。同时发现,第一段催化床层的反应产物分布与第二段催化床层的反应条件直接影响最终的反应结果。第一段催化剂床层中ＣＯ的转化率或甲醇的选择性过高都不利于提高反应产物中低碳醇的选择性     

Mechanism of formation of organic carbonates from aliphatic alcohols and carbon dioxide under mild conditions promoted by carbodiimides. DFT calculation and experimental study

Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (CyN=C=NCy, DCC) promotes the facile formation of organic carbonates from aliphatic alcohols and carbon dioxide at temperatures as low as 310 K and moderate pressure of CO2 (from 0.1 MPa) with an acceptable rate. The conversion yield of DCC is quantitative, and the reaction has a very high selectivity toward carbonates at 330 K; increasing the temperature increases the conversion rate, but lowers the selectivity. A detailed study has allowed us to isolate or identify the intermediates formed in the reaction of an alcohol with DCC in the presence or absence of carbon dioxide. The first step is the addition of alcohol to the cumulene (a known reaction) with formation of an O-alkyl isourea [RHNC(OR')=NR] that may interact with a second alcohol molecule via H-bond (a reaction never described thus far). Such an adduct can be detected by NMR. In alcohol, in absence of CO2, it converts into a carbamate and a secondary amine, while in the presence of CO2, the dialkyl carbonate, (RO)2CO, is formed together with urea [CyHN-CO-NHCy]. The reaction has been tested with various aliphatic alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, and allyl alcohol. It results in being a convenient route to the synthesis of diallyl carbonate, in particular. O-Methyl-N,N'-dicyclohexyl isourea also reacts with phenol in the presence of CO2 to directly afford for the very first time a mixed aliphatic-aromatic carbonate, (MeO)(PhO)CO. A DFT study has allowed us to estimate the energy of each intermediate and the relevant kinetic barriers in the described reactions, providing reasonable mechanistic details. Calculated data match very well the experimental results. The driving force of the reaction is the conversion of carbodiimide into the relevant urea, which is some 35 kcal/mol downhill with respect to the parent compound. The best operative conditions have been defined for achieving a quantitative yield of carbonate from carbodiimide. The role of temperature, pressure, and catalysts (Lewis acids and bases) has been established. As the urea can be reconverted into DCC, the reaction described in this article may further be developed for application to the synthesis of organic carbonates under selective and mild conditions.     

Some Factors Affecting the Photosensitized Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate

The effects of sensitizer, alcohol, and reaction temperature on the photosensitized polymerization of methyl methacrylate in cyclohexane-alcohol mixtures were investigated. A maximum conversion was indicated at a certain concentration of alcohol in the mixture for the systems sensitized with quinones such as anthraquinone, 2-tert-butylanthraquinone, and α-naphthoquinone, while it was not observed for the benzophenone-sensitized system. The concentration of alcohol corresponding to the maximum conversion increased in the order methanol < ethanol < n-propanol < n-butanol, and shifted to the lower side by raising the reaction temperature from 20 to 40°C. Based on the absorption and ESR spectra of irradiated solution of quinones, reasons for maximum conversion at an optimum concentration of alcohol are discussed.     

Synthesis of Polycyclic Indole Skeletons by a Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Cascade Reaction

The conversion of simple, easily available urea‐substituted 3‐phenylpropargyl alcohols catalyzed by a simple IPr–gold(I) catalyst in a gold(I)‐catalyzed cascade reaction composing of a gold‐catalyzed nucleophilic addition and a subsequent gold‐catalyzed substitution reaction delivers 1H‐imidazo[1, 5?a]indol‐3(2 H)‐ones. Other gold(I) catalysts or silver catalysts gave lower yields and often gave other side products. Gold(III) and copper(II) catalysts decomposed the starting material. Twelve examples, including donor and acceptor substituents on the distal nitrogen of the urea substructure, are provided. An X‐ray crystal structure analysis confirmed the structural assignment. The mechanistic investigation including isolation and further conversion of intermediates and reactions with enantiopure starting materials indicated that after the nucleophilic‐addition step, the substrate undergoes an S_N1‐type benzylic substitution reaction at the indolyl alcohol intermediate or an intramolecular hydroamination reaction of the 2‐vinylindole intermediate.     

Vapour phase synthesis of isobutyraldehyde from methanol and ethanol over mixed oxide supported vanadium oxide catalysts

The vapour phase synthesis of isobutyraldehyde from methanol and ethanol in one step was investigated over titania-silica, titania-alumina, titania-zirconia, titania-silica-zirconia, and magnesia supported vanadium oxide catalysts at 623 K and under normal atmospheric pressure. Among various catalysts the titania-silica binary oxide supported vanadia provided higher yields than the other single or mixed oxide supported catalysts. The high conversion and product selectivity of V₂O₅/TiO₂-SiO₂ catalyst (20 wt% V₂O₅) was related to the better dispersion of vanadium oxide over titania-silica mixed oxide support in addition to other acid-base and redox characteristics. A reaction path for the formation of isobutyraldehyde from methanol and ethanol mixtures over these catalysts was described.     

Effect of Alcohols on the Photooxidative Behavior of Diethyl Sulfide

The reactions of singlet oxygen with diethyl sulfide (Et(2)S) in benzene alcohol mixtures have been examined. The salient discoveries include: (1) the rate constants of product formation, k(r), in benzene/methanol mixtures are a function of the concentration of methanol, (2) the ability of alcohols to supress physical quenching are a function of their pK(a)'s, and (3) trapping experiments with diphenyl sulfoxide are consistent with two distinct intermediates. A mechanism which involves formation of a persulfoxide followed by reaction with methanol to give a hydroperoxy-methoxy sulfurane is consistent with all of the results.     

Synergistic effects of potassium promoter and carbon fibers on direct synthesis of isobutanol from syngas over Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts obtained from hydrotalcite-like compounds

The Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalysts (CuZnAl) can be utilized to directly synthesize higher alcohols from syngas under mild conditions. Carbon fibers (CFs) are widely used as a catalyst supporter, and potassium is usually used as a good electron assistant for charge transfer to the active phase of the catalyst. However, little is known about the combined effects of CFs and potassium on Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalysts. In this work, the CuZnAl catalysts supported on activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were prepared by a co-precipitation method, and then the catalysts were modified by potassium. The catalytic performances of K-modified CuZnAl and composites containing ACFs and CuZnAl were evaluated. Addition of ACFs and/or potassium increased CO conversion and selectivity for isobutanol compared with pure CuZnAl. All the samples were characterized by BET, XRD, SEM–EDS, CO–TPD, and Raman spectroscopy to further disclose the reason for better catalytic performance of the catalysts with ACFs and/or potassium. We found that addition of ACFs or potassium promotes moderate CO adsorption and formation of the active phase (CuO/ZnO solid solution) during alcohol synthesis, which facilitates synthesis of higher alcohols and CO conversion. As a result, ACFs and potassium exhibited synergistic effects on improvement of CO conversion and selectivity for isobutanol.     

Pt/C催化剂的硅钼酸电化学修饰

通过电化学循环伏安法将硅钼酸修饰到Pt/C催化剂表面, 比较了硅钼酸修饰对Pt/C催化剂上CO、甲醇及乙醇电氧化反应的影响. CO消除伏安测试结果表明, 用硅钼酸修饰后的Pt/C催化剂上吸附的CO的起始氧化电势和峰电势, 与修饰前相比分别降低了80和60 mV, 表明修饰后Pt/C催化剂的抗CO性能有明显提高. 对于甲醇的电氧化反应, 硅钼酸的修饰不仅提高了甲醇电氧化的电流密度, 而且降低了甲醇的起始氧化电势, 促进了中间氧化产物的脱除；而在乙醇的电氧化反应中, 硅钼酸修饰虽对Pt/C催化剂上乙醇的起始氧化电势没有影响, 但能增加乙醇电氧化的电流密度.     

FeNiO_x和LiOH催化剂体系上乙醇转化到丁醇（英文）

随着生物发酵技术的进步和化学转化方法的发展,全球乙醇产量迅速增加.然而,乙醇存在能量密度低、吸水、对发动机腐蚀性高等缺点,其在汽油中的添加量有限,一般低于15%,这严重限制了乙醇产业的发展.与此相比,丁醇具有更高的能量密度和汽油添加量,是一种更加理想的油品添加剂.因此,乙醇催化转化为丁醇是连接高乙醇产量和优质丁醇需求的桥梁,具有重要的学术和应用价值.在过去的几十年里,均相催化剂、复合氧化物催化剂、羟基磷灰石及金属促进的氧化物催化剂迅速发展,但是仍存在乙醇转化率低、丁醇选择性差和催化剂不能循环等问题.乙醇催化转化为丁醇是一个Guerbet反应,乙醇首先脱氢生成乙醛,乙醛通过缩合、脱水生成巴豆醛,巴豆醛通过加氢得到丁醇.反应中主要涉及氢转移活性位和羟醛缩合活性位.因此,本文中我们根据催化反应机理,筛选了不同金属氧化物和碱催化剂体系,分别用于乙醇脱氢、巴豆醛加氢和乙醛缩合、脱水反应.结果发现,在FeNiOx和LiOH催化体系中,乙醇转化率和丁醇选择性最好.通过优化反应温度、反应时间、金属氧化物和碱量等条件,在493 K反应釜中反应24 h,得到28%的乙醇转化率、71%的丁醇选择性和超过90%的C4-C8高碳醇选择性,达到了部分均相贵金属催化剂上的反应结果.在FeNiOx和LiOH催化体系中,FeNiOx具有较强的磁性,便于磁性分离,循环八次后仍具有较高的催化活性,展示出优异的稳定性.LiOH可以通过蒸馏分离,循环三次没有明显失活,但有少量Li2CO3生成,其可以通过焙烧的方式恢复.通过穆斯堡尔谱、氢气吸附、XPS等表征和条件实验发现,FeNiOx中存在金属态的镍、铁和不同氧化态的铁物种,其能促进乙醇的脱氢和后续巴豆醛的加氢,起到氢转移的作用.LiOH具有合适的酸碱性,能够促进乙醛的羟醛缩合,并加速乙醇转化.在两者协同作用下,乙醇转化率和丁醇选择性都有显著提高.这一研究策略对此反应中新型催化剂的开发和反应机理的认识都具有重要的推动作用.     

Na促进的CuCoMn催化剂催化生物质合成气合成高醇

研究钠促进的CuCoMn催化剂的特性及其在生物质气化合成气合成高醇中的应用. 研究了催化剂中Na含量及合成条件(温度、压力和空速)对生物质基合成气合成高醇性能的影响. 发现CuCoMnNa_0.1催化剂较适合高醇合成, 在300 °C以下, 随着温度的上升, 碳转化率增大, 而醇选择性降低. 压力的增加有利于醇的合成, 增大空速会明显降低碳转化率, 但醇时空产率则因转换频率的增加而增大. 在所考察的范围内, 醇产率最高达到304.6 g·kg^-1·h^-1, 其中C₂₊高醇(C₂-C₆醇)占64.4% (w, 质量分数). 醇产物和烃产物均符合ASF (Anderson- Schulz-Flory)分布关系. 根据催化剂性能与表征分析, Na的加入有利于提高生物质气化合成气合成高醇的选择性和活性元素Cu、Co的分散性. X射线光电子谱(XPS)测试结果显示反应后的催化剂表面上, Cu以Cu⁺和Cu⁰的混合形式存在, 而Co则是Co²⁺/Co³⁺和Co⁰的混合物. 增加Na的含量, Cu⁰/Cu⁺比率和Co⁰的强度均随之减小.     

K改性β-Mo2C催化剂CO加氢合成低碳混合醇的研究

制备系列K改性的β-Mo2C催化剂并对其CO加氢合成低碳混合醇性能进行了考察。结果表明，K改性使β-Mo2C催化剂的CO加氢选择性发生显著变化。β-Mo2C催化剂CO加氢的产物主要为C1～C4烷烃,经K改性后β-Mo2C催化剂上产物主要为C1～C5低碳醇，其中高级醇(C2+OH)选择性可达到33.78%。通过对碱金属质量分数的考察发现，当K/Mo（原子比）为0.2时，总醇选择性达到最大值，低碳醇的时空收率达到0.12 g/（mL·h－１）。β-Mo2C催化剂上醇烃产物均符合线性Anderson-Schultz-Flory（A-S-F）分布曲线，而K改性β-Mo2C催化剂上醇产物为独特的甲醇负偏离A-S-F分布。可见，K助剂的加入有效促进了低碳醇的形成，尤其是促进了C1OH到C2OH的链增长步骤。     

Viscosities of Binary and Ternary Mixtures of Water,Alcohol, Acetone,and Hexane

This articles studied and determined the viscosities of the binary mixtures of water–methanol, water–ethanol, water–propanol, water–acetone, acetone–ethanol, methanol–ethanol, and acetone–hexane and the ternary mixtures of water–methanol–ethanol and water–ethanol–acetone at 20°C. It is shown that the mixing of water with the alcohols and acetone resulted in a positive deviation of viscosity, which reached the maximum value at the water mole fraction x ₁ ～ 0.7 for water–methanol, x ₁ ～ 0.72 for water–ethanol, x ₁ ～ 0.74 for water–propanol, and x ₁ ～ 0.83 for water–acetone binary mixture. This viscosity deviation can be mainly attributed to the formation of micelles of alcohol or acetone molecules in water because of the hydrophobic attraction between the hydrocarbon chains. The micelle surfaces are surrounded by hydration layers, leading to the positive viscosity deviation in the liquid mixtures because the water in hydration layers has a much higher viscosity than bulk water. Also, the contrary observation was found in the binary mixtures of acetone–ethanol and acetone–hexane, having a negative viscosity deviation.     

Stereoselectivity ratios in a simple Diels-Alder reaction in aqueous salt solutions of alcohols

This is the first exhaustive report on the variation of stereoselectivity ratios for a simple Diels-Alder reaction between cyclopentadiene and methyl acrylate. The reaction was carried out in aqueous mixtures of methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol and butan-1-ol in presence of LiClO₄, LiCl, NaCl, KCl, CaCl₂ and MgCl₂. The endo stereoisomer decreases with the increase in carbon chain length of the alcohol. However, LiClO₄, a salting-in agent in water becomes salting-out in aqueous mixtures of alcohols. The solvent properties, thus can be attuned by adjusting the amount of solvents and salts.     

Syngas reactions XII. The selective preparation of acetaldehyde,alkanols, esters and acetic acid from synthesis gas

Several classes of commercially important oxygenates, including acetaldehyde, ethanol, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate and acetic acid as well as C₁–C₃ alcohol/acetate ester mixtures, may each be selectivelygenerated from synthesis gas through the application of novel classes of ruthenium-containing bimetallic catalysts particularly those of ruthenium and cobalt (Ru? Co). A particular feature of these versatile catalysts is that all precursors are iodidefree. Products are formed through a combination of carbon monoxide hydrogenation, methanol homologation, methyl acetate homologation and methanol carbonylation reaction sequences.     

Quantitative NMR spectroscopy of binary liquid mixtures (aldehyde + alcohol). Part III: (1-decanal or 3-phenylpropanal or 2-chlorobenzaldehyde) + (methanol or ethanol or 1-propanol)

The thermodynamic properties of binary liquid mixtures of (aldehyde + alcohol) are strongly influenced by chemical reactions in particular around and below ambient temperature. In two previous publications the chemical reaction equilibrium was investigated by ¹³C – Fourier transform NMR-spectroscopy at temperatures between 255 K and 295 K for a series of aldehydes (acetaldehyde, 1-propanal, 1-butanal, 1-heptanal) with three alcohols (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol). Here these investigations are extended to three more aldehydes (1-decanal, 3-phenylpropanal and 2-chlorobenzaldehyde, respectively). The results for the binary systems with decanal or 3-phenylpropanal as the aldehyde in the binary mixture (aldehyde + alcohol) confirm the expectations from the first parts of this series, i.e., that the majority of the constituents of the mixture is present as hemiacetal and the first two poly(oxymethylene) – hemiacetals. The numerical results for the chemical reaction equilibrium constants from the previous investigations can be used to predict quantitatively the speciation in binary systems of ((either 1-decanal or 3-phenylpropanal) + (either methanol or ethanol or 1-propanol)). However the experimental results with 2-chlorobenzaldehyde reveal a different behaviour. In all investigated systems (2-chlorobenzaldehyde + alcohol) the most important reaction product was the corresponding acetal whereas the amounts of hemiacetal were very small. While the amounts of hemiacteal could still be quantified, it was not possible to quantify the amount of any poly(oxymethylene) – hemiacetal.