Catalyst, alumina hydrobromic acid

In the petroleum (qv) industry hydrogen bromide can serve as an alkylation catalyst. It is claimed as a catalyst in the controlled oxidation of aHphatic and ahcycHc hydrocarbons to ketones, acids, and peroxides (7,8). AppHcations of HBr with NH Br (9) or with H2S and HCl (10) as promoters for the dehydrogenation of butene to butadiene have been described, and either HBr or HCl can be used in the vapor-phase ortho methylation of phenol with methanol over alumina (11). Various patents dealing with catalytic activity of HCl also cover the use of HBr. An important reaction of HBr in organic syntheses is the replacement of aHphatic chlorine by bromine in the presence of an aluminum catalyst (12). Small quantities of hydrobromic acid are employed in analytical chemistry. 

Preparation of dienes is accomplished by dehydration of diols or ole-finic alcohols. Pinacol, (CHjljCOHCOHfCHjlj, is converted to 2,3-di-methyl-1,3-butadiene by heating with 48% hydrobromic acid or by passing the vapors over activated alumina at 420-470°, Yields of the diene are 60% and 86%, respectively. Aniline hydrobroniide is used as a catalyst in the dehydration of 3-methyl-2,4-pentanediol to 3 methyl-l,3-penta-diene (42%). An excellent laboratory preparation of isoprene from acetone in 65% over-all yield has been described. The last step involves catalytic dehydration of dimethylvinylcatbinol over aluminum oxide at 300° to give isoprene in 88% yield. ... 

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