Catalysis/catalysts shape-selective

De-aluminated mordenites were claimedto give more active and stable catalysts for toluene disproportionation than conventional H-mordenite. Becker, Karge, and StreubeP studied the alkylation of benzene with ethene and propene over an H-mordenite catalyst. Shape-selective catalysis was found because only ethylbenzene, w-diethylbenzene, p-diethylbenzene, cumene, p-di-isopropylbenzene, and m-di-isopropylbenzene were detected in the products neither o-diethylbenzenes nor higher alkylated products were found. The results are in agreement with earlier transalkylations over H-mordenite. Catalyst aging was caused by olefin polymerization. The selectivity of Be-mordenite... 

Shape anisotropy Shape control Shape factors Shape-memory alloys Shape-selective catalysis Shape selectivity Sharpless catalyst Shaving cream Shaving creams... 

The critical sizes of the reactant molecules were estimated and are shown in Figure 5, where the figures for 2-hexanol, isopropylacetate, sec-butylacetate and cyclohexylacetate are estimated by MM2 from Pauling s atomic radius and molecular model [18]. Therefore, the unique catalysis of Cs2.2 is understood if one assumes that it is active only for small molecules. In other words, this catalyst exhibits "reactant shape selectivity", where the catalyst differentiates the reactants according to their size. 

As was stated above, the very strong acidity (and probably together with the organophilicity of the pore wall) makes these salts very active catalysts in liquid-solid organic reaction systems. We wish to emphasize that this is the first example for the shape selective catalysis of heteropolyacids at least to our knowledge. 

Figure 4.20 MTG/MTO reaction path and aromatics distribution with different zeolites as catalysts. (Reprinted from C.D. Chang, W.H. Lang, W.K. Bell, Catalysis in Organic Reactions, Molecular Shape-Selective Catalysis in Zeolites, pp. 93-94. Copyright 1981. With permission from Marcel Dekker.)...

As was shown here in some examples, the field of catalysis over zeolites, although marnre, is still very much alive. The chemists who work with the synthesis zeolites continue to be very creative, the focus now being placed on the synthesis of materials that can catalyze reactions other than the acidic ones and/or reactions of bulkier molecules, that is, synthesis of zeolites with larger micropores or with a very large external surface, such as nanosize and delaminated zeolites. New concepts related to the mode of action of zeolite catalysts continue to emerge, as shown here with the shape selectivity of the external surface. These concepts are particularly useful to scientifically design selective and stable catalysts. 

This chapter focuses on several recent topics of novel catalyst design with metal complexes on oxide surfaces for selective catalysis, such as stQbene epoxidation, asymmetric BINOL synthesis, shape-selective aUcene hydrogenation and selective benzene-to-phenol synthesis, which have been achieved by novel strategies for the creation of active structures at oxide surfaces such as surface isolation and creation of unsaturated Ru complexes, chiral self-dimerization of supported V complexes, molecular imprinting of supported Rh complexes, and in situ synthesis of Re clusters in zeolite pores (Figure 10.1). 

In addition to imprinted acid-base catalysts [49-55], attempts to imprint metal complexes have been reported and constitute the current state of the art [46, 47]. In most cases of metal-complex imprinting, ligands of the complexes are used as template molecules, which aims to create a cavity near the metal site. Molecular imprinting of metal complexes exhibits several notable features (i) attachment of metal complex on robust supports (ii) surrounding of the metal complex by polymer matrix and (iii) production of a shape selective cavity on the metal site. Metal complexes thus imprinted have been appHed to molecular recognition [56, 57], reactive complex stabilization [58, 59], Hgand exchange reaction [60] and catalysis [61-70]. 

The advantages of shape selective catalysis are alreacfy ejq)loited in a number of industrial processes [11-14]. Astonishingly, virtually all these processes rely on a single structural type of catalyst, viz. zeolite ZSM-5 in various modifications, or its titanium containing analogue TS-1 [15]. It is, moreover, noteworthy that many of these processes convert and/or produce mononuclear aromatic compounds. It is not surprising, therefore, that a vast scientific literature exists on shape selective reactions of benzene derivatives in zeolite ZSM-5. 

In this paper, we report on the shape selective isomerization of l methylnaphthalene in suitable zeolite catalysts in which the undesired transalkylation reaction is suppressed. Furthermore, new results concerning the alkylation of 2-methylnaphthalene with methanol are presented in an endeavor to contribute to a critical evaluation of Fraenkel s model. At the same time, the potential of shape selective catalysis for the manufacture of... 

Zeolites are well known for shape-selective catalysis. Here the shape of the zeolite pores or cavities can control the shape of product. When catalytic reactions take place in channels of zeolites only those products that can be accommodated in the channels advance and emerge. Mobil s ZSM-5 is an example of a shape-selective catalyst. Many more zeolites with different pore sizes or large surface areas are being synthesized, extending the principle of shape-selective catalysis. Such developments are helpful for both existing industrial processes and environmental protection. 

This system demonstrates reactant shape-selective catalysis. The branched hydrocarbons are too bulky to pass through the pore openings in the catalyst. 

The shape-selectivity of ZSM-5 is particularly remarkable. Active centres at the inner walls of the catalyst readily release protons to organic reactant molecules forming carbonium ions, which in turn, through loss of water and a succession of C—C forming steps, yield a mixture of hydrocarbons that is similar to gasoline. The feedstock can be methanol, ethanol, corn oil or jojoba oil. The shape-selectivity of this catalyst is particularly striking, as can be seen from the product distribution obtained for the dehydration of three different alcohols (Table 8.2). The product distribution can be understood in terms of the intermediate pore size of ZSM-5, which can accommodate linear alkanes and isoalkanes as well as monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons smaller than 1, 3, 5-trimethyl benzene. In Table 8.3, we list some of the recent innovations in catalysis, to highlight the important place occupied by molecular-sieve catalysts. 

We have seen previously shape-selective catalysis by ZSM-5 in the conversion of methanol to gasoline (Chapter 15).-7 Other commercial processes include the formation of ethylbenzene from benzene and ethylene and the synthesis of p-xylene. The efficient performance of ZSM-5 catalyst has been attributed to its high acidity and to the peculiar shape, arrangement, and dimensions of the channels. Most of the active sites are within the channel so a branched chain molecule may not be able to diffuse in, and therefore does not react, while a linear one may do so. Of course, once a reactant is in the channel a cavity large enough to house the activated complex must exist or product cannot form. Finally, the product must be able to diffuse out. and in some instances product size and shape exclude this possibility. For example, in the methylu-uon of toluene to form xylene ... 

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