Reactions on Alkaline Earth Metal Hydroxides

Catalytic Reactions on Alkaline Earth Metal Hydroxides A.l. Aldol Condensations 

Aldol condensation of acetone is a well-known base-catalyzed reaction, and barium hydroxide is one of the catalysts for this reaction mentioned in textbooks. A family of barium hydroxide samples hydrated to various degress determined by the calcination temperature (473, 573, 873, and 973 K) of the starting commercial Ba(OH)2 8H2O were reported to be active as basic catalysts for acetone aldol condensation (282,286). The reaction was carried out in a batch reactor equipped with a Soxhlet extractor, where the catalyst was placed. The results show that Ba(OH)2 8H2O is less active than any of the other activated Ba(HO)2 samples, and the Ba(OH)2 calcined at 473 K was the most active and selective catalyst for formation of diacetone alcohol, achieving nearly 58% acetone conversion after 8h at 367 K in a batch reactor. When the reaction temperature was increased to 385 K, 78% acetone conversion with 92% selectivity to diacetone alcohol was obtained after 8h. The yield of diacetone alcohol was similar to that described in the literature in applications with commercial barium hydroxide, but this catalyst required longer reaction times (72-120 h) (287). No deactivation of the catalyst was observed in the process, and it could be used at least 9 times without loss of activity. 

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