Synthesis of (E)-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one by the reaction of styrene with acetic anhydride in the presence of zeolite catalysts

The high catalytic activity and selectivity of zeolites HBeta and HZSM-12 were found in the synthesis of (E)-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one by the reaction of styrene with acetic anhydride.     

Synthesis of an efficient catalyst based on nickel and chromium oxides for hydrogenation reactions

The dissolution of nickel metal in nitric acid in the presence of the dichromate anion as the oxidizer is reported. The formation of Ni(II) and Cr(III) nitrates takes place in two steps with the intermediate formation of nitrous acid. A new method to synthesize the nickel-chromium oxide catalyst from nickel and chromium nitrate solutions is suggested, in which the solutions are obtained by an environmentally friendly technology from nickel metal, chromium(VI) oxide, and nitric acid. The catalyst is highly active and selective in benzene hydrogenation and in CO preferential hydrogenation in the presence of CO₂.