Water, as promoter

Orthophosphoric acid and pyrophosphoric acid are preferred catalysts. Phosphorus pentoxide is catalytically active but no conclusive evidence has been described to show whether or not its activity depends on the presence of traces of water as promoter. Copper pyrophosphate and acid phosphates of cadmium are also good catalysts that the former probably owes its activity to partial conversion to acid or acidic salt under the polymerization conditions seems to be shown by the fact that there is an induction period. A composite prepared by calcining kiesel-guhr impregnated with orthophosphoric acid (the so-called solid phosphoric acid ) has found wide commercial use. 

Scheme 3. Proposed catalytic cycle for the deoxygenating carbonylation of nitrobenzene with water as promoter according to (56a).

---

See also in sourсe #XX -- [ , ]

---