Catalysis Today, Vol.60, No.3-4, 255-261, 2000
t-Butylation of 1,2-dihydroxybenzene over acidic zeolites
t-Butylation of 1,2-dihydroxybenzene (DHB) with isobutene as alkylating agent was carried out over various acidic zeolites such as USH-Y, H-beta, and H-ZSM-5. USH-Y zeolite exhibits the highest catalytic activity and considerable selectivity of 4-t-butylcatechol (4-TBC). The selectivity of 4-TBC is increased in the order of H-ZSM-5>USH-Y congruent to H-beta. 3-t-Butylcatechol (3-TBC) is well produced over catalyst with high SiO2/Al2O3 ratio and large pore aperture. 3,5-Di-t-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) selectivity is maximum in zeolite which contains strong acidity and large pore channel. The influences of various reaction parameters such as reaction temperature, space velocity reactant molar ratio are discussed. In order to improve 4-TBC formation and decrease in 3,5-DTBC selectivity simultaneously, USH-Y zeolite was silylated by tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) resulting in the decrease of 3,5-DTBC selectivity over modified catalysts by about 25%. USH-Y zeolite shows high stability in the t-butylation for at least 350 h. The coke formed during the reaction was identified by FT-IR and the USH-Y zeolite could be regenerated through oxidative thermal treatment.