Aromatic acids ammoxidation

IsophLhalonitrile (1,3-dicyanoben/ene, 1PN), is a white solid which mells at 161°C and sublimes at 265°C. It is slightly soluble in water but readily dissolves in diinethylfonnamide, jV-inethylpyiToliclinoiie and hot aromatic solvents. IPN undergoes the reactions expected of an aromatic nitrile. It is prepared by vapor-phase ammoxidation of metci- ylcnc. Its principal use is as an intermediate to amines, As a reagent, TPN can be used to convert aromatic acids to nitriles in near quantitative yields. 

One of the most important challenges in the modern chemical industry is represented by the development of new processes aimed at the exploitation of alternative raw materials, in replacement of technologies that make use of building blocks derived from oil (olefins and aromatics). This has led to a scientific activity devoted to the valorization of natural gas components, through catalytic, environmentally benign processes of transformation (1). Examples include the direct exoenthalpic transformation of methane to methanol, DME or formaldehyde, the oxidation of ethane to acetic acid or its oxychlorination to vinyl chloride, the oxidation of propane to acrylic acid or its ammoxidation to acrylonitrile, the oxidation of isobutane to... 

Many substances can be partially oxidized by oxygen if selective catalysts are used. In such a way, oxygen can be introduced in hydrocarbons such as olefins and aromatics to synthesize aldehydes (e.g. acrolein and benzaldehyde) and acids (e.g. acrylic acid, phthalic acid anhydride). A selective oxidation can also result in a dehydrogenation (butene - butadiene) or a dealkylation (toluene -> benzene). Other molecules can also be selectively attacked by oxygen. Methanol is oxidized to formaldehyde and ammonia to nitrogen oxides. Olefins and aromatics can be oxidized with oxygen together with ammonia to nitriles (ammoxidation). 

The synthesis of intermediates and monomers from alkanes by means of oxidative processes, in part replacing alkenes and aromatics as the traditional building blocks for the chemical industry [2]. Besides the well-known oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride, examples of processes implemented at the industrial level are (i) the direct oxidation of ethane to acetic acid, developed by Sabic (ii) the ammoxidation of propane to acrylonitrile, developed by INEOS (former BP) and by Mitsubishi, and recently announced by Asahi to soon become commercial (iii) the partial oxidation of methane to syngas (a demonstration unit is being built by ENI). Many other reactions are currently being investigated, for example, (i) the... 

Attention should be drawn It) the use of tin o.xide systems as heterogeneous catalysts. The oldest and most extensively patented systems are the mixed tin-vanadium oxide catalysts for the oxidation of aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, xylenes and naphthalene in the. synthesis of organic acids and acid anhydride.s. More recently mixed tin-antimony oxides have been applied to the selective oxidation and ammoxidation of propylene to acrolein, acrylic acid and acrylonitrile. 

The ammoxidation of methyl aromatic and heteroaromatic compounds is a convenient route to many nitriles required for further synthesis of fine chemicals. For example, for the production of amines by hydrogenation or of carboxylic acids and amides by hydrolysis. 

Besides the use of vanadium-based catalysts, a wide variety of other catalyst compositions were reported. A recent review focussed on FeSbO based catalysts promoted by appropriate additives as suitable for the ammoxidation of alkyl-substituted aromatics and hetero aromatic compounds. A unique preparation method of a fluid-bed catalyst is presented using nitric acid oxidation of antimony trioxide catalyzed with iron ions. The catalysts thus prepared have superior catalytic and physical properties. [78]. In addition, some unique compositions were reported by different research groups. For instance, new ammoxidation catalysts based on rhenium carbonyl cluster complexes containing antimony and bismuth ligands were reported by Adam et al. [79]. Single-site multifunctional catalysts based on [Cu RUj C ] nanocluster anchored to inner walls of mesoporous silica were also used in the ammoxidation of 3P [80]. 

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