Envirocat EPIC

BACs can be activated toward Friedel-Crafts acylation with commercially available catalyst Envirocat EPIC . The catalyst is constituted by a natural clay impregnated with polyphosphoric acid. The reaction occurs... 

Bandgar, B. P. and Savadarte, V. S. 1999. Envirocat EPIC as a novel catalyst for acylation of anisole using benzoic acids. Synth. Commun. 29 2587-2590. 

Whilst solid acids such as zeolites and other aluminosilicates have been the subject of considerable study in the context of alkane chemistry (e.g. catalytic cracking and alkene isomerisation), the design of more versatile materials which can be used in the fine chemical industry has been less thoroughly researched. However, the need for the production of solid acids to replace traditional protonic acids such as hydrogen fluoride, phosphoric and sulfuric acids in liquid phase processes is an increasingly important goal. Some progress has been made in this area and the commercial product Envirocat EPIC [19] provides an excellent example of a... 

Figure 16.6 Esterification of long chain fatty acids using Envirocat EPIC.

Figure 16.8 A Beckmann rearrangement reaction using Envirocat EPIC.

The opportunity plainly exists for improvements to be made to processes carried out in acidic media. Solid acids such as zeolites and Envirocat EPIC offer many advantages, not least of these the negation of the storage and handling problems associated with conventional mineral acids. 

Figure 16.15 A benzoylation reaction catalysed by Envirocat EPIC.

Envirocat EPIC General acid catalysis Beckmann rearrangements Acylations with carboxylic acids and alkylations with alkenes Strong, solid Bronsted acid Improved product quality Easier separation... 

Beregszaszi and Molnar (1997) have reported that Envirocat supported reagents (EPZG, EPZIO, and EPIC) were efficient in catalyzing the acetylation of carbonyl compounds with 1,2-ethanediol under microwave irradiation in solvent-free conditions. It was also observed that the reagents could be used in repeated experiments to perform the reaction with the same activity. 

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