Xylenes synthesis

The purpose of the present paper is to offer a contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms of these reactions by using an IR spectroscopic method and well-characterized "monolayer" type vanadia-titania (anatase) as the catalyst. We will focus our paper in particular on the following subjects i) the nature of the activation step of the methyl-aromatic hydrocarbon ii) the mechanism of formation of maleic anhydride as a by-product of o-xylene synthesis iii) the main routes of formation of carbon oxides upon methyl-aromatic oxidation and ammoxidation iv) the nature of the first N-containing intermediates in the ammoxidation routes. 

Distillate dewaxing Lube dewaxing Gas to aromatics Gas to Aromatics Light olefins to gasoline and distillate Methanol to gasoline Methanol to light olefins Xylene isomerization Toluene disproportionation Ethylbenzene synthesis 58-59) p-Xylene synthesis p-ethyltoluene synthesis... 

TABLE 11. Xylene synthesis by toluene disproportionation at the typical operating conditions ... 

Cydopentane reagents used in synthesis are usually derived from cyclopentanone (R.A. Ellison, 1973). Classically they are made by base-catalyzed intramolecular aldol or ester condensations (see also p. 55). An important example is 2-methylcydopentane-l,3-dione. It is synthesized by intramolecular acylation of diethyl propionylsucdnate dianion followed by saponification and decarboxylation. This cyclization only worked with potassium t-butoxide in boiling xylene (R. Bucourt, 1965). Faster routes to this diketone start with succinic acid or its anhydride. A Friedel-Crafts acylation with 2-acetoxy-2-butene in nitrobenzene or with pro-pionyl chloride in nitromethane leads to acylated adducts, which are deacylated in aqueous acids (V.J. Grenda, 1967 L.E. Schick, 1969). A new promising route to substituted cyclopent-2-enones makes use of intermediate 5-nitro-l,3-diones (D. Seebach, 1977). 

You will recognize the side chain oxidation of p xylene to terephthahc acid as a reaction type discussed previously (Section 11 13) Examples of other reactions encoun tered earlier that can be applied to the synthesis of carboxylic acids are collected m Table 19 4... 

Commercial production of acetic acid has been revolutionized in the decade 1978—1988. Butane—naphtha Hquid-phase catalytic oxidation has declined precipitously as methanol [67-56-1] or methyl acetate [79-20-9] carbonylation has become the technology of choice in the world market. By-product acetic acid recovery in other hydrocarbon oxidations, eg, in xylene oxidation to terephthaUc acid and propylene conversion to acryflc acid, has also grown. Production from synthesis gas is increasing and the development of alternative raw materials is under serious consideration following widespread dislocations in the cost of raw material (see Chemurgy). 

Another ester synthesis employs the reaction of a long-chain ketone and pentaerythritol in xylene or chlorobenzene (14). Mixed esters have been produced using mixed isostearic and cyclohexane carboxyUc acids in trihromophosphoric acid, followed by reaction with lauric acid (15). 

Catalysts used in the polymerization of C-5 diolefins and olefins, and monovinyl aromatic monomers, foUow closely with the systems used in the synthesis of aHphatic resins. Typical catalyst systems are AlCl, AIBr., AlCl —HCl—o-xylene complexes and sludges obtained from the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of benzene. Boron trifluoride and its complexes, as weU as TiCl and SnCl, have been found to result in lower yields and higher oligomer content in C-5 and aromatic modified C-5 polymerizations. 

More recently, a commercial process has been introduced for the manufacture of methyl isocyanate (MIC) which involves the dehydrogenation of /V-m ethyl form am i de [123-39-7] in the presence of palladium, platinum [7440-06-4], or mthenium [7440-18-8], at temperatures between 50—300°C (31). Aprotic solvents, such as ben2ene [71-43-2], xylenes, or toluene [108-88-3], may optionally be used. A variation of this synthesis employs stoichiometric amounts of palladium chloride [7647-10-1], PdCl2. 

In shape-selective catalysis, the pore size of the zeoHte is important. For example, the ZSM-5 framework contains 10-membered rings with 0.6-nm pore size. This material is used in xylene isomerization, ethylbenzene synthesis, dewaxing of lubricatius oils and light fuel oil, ie, diesel and jet fuel, and the conversion of methanol to Hquid hydrocarbon fuels (21). 

The selective alkylation of toluene with methanol to produce -xylene as a predominant isomer can be achieved over shape-selective catalysts (99—101). With a modified ZSM-5 zeoHte catalyst, more than 99% -xylene in xylene isomers can be produced at 550°C. This -xylene concentration exceeds the equiHbrium concentration of 23% (99). The selective synthesis of -xylene using relatively low cost toluene is economically attractive however, this technology was not commercialized as of 1991. 

The petroleum industry is now the principal suppHer of ben2ene, toluene, the xylenes, and naphthalene (see BTX processing Feedstocks). Petroleum displaced coal tar as the primary source for these aromatic compounds after World War II because it was relatively cheap and abundantly available. However, the re-emergence of king coal is predicted for the twenty-first century, when oil suppHes are expected to dwindle and the cost of producing chemicals from coal (including new processes based on synthesis gas) will gradually become more competitive (3). 

Hydroxyphthalazin-l(2//)-one is obtained in a smooth reaction between phthalic anhydride and hydrazine hydrate and this is again the starting compound for many 1-substituted and/or 1,4-disubstituted phthalazines. The transformations of 1,4-dichloro-phthalazine, which is prepared in the usual manner, follow a similar pattern as shown for pyridazines in Scheme 110. On the other hand, phthalonitrile is the preferential starting compound for amino- and hydrazino-phthalazines. The most satisfactory synthesis of phthalazine is the reaction between a,a,a, a -tetrachloro-o-xylene and hydrazine sulfate in sulfuric acid (67FRP1438827), alt iough catalytic dehalogenation of 1-chloro- or 1,4-dichloro-phthalazine or oxidation of 1-hydrazinophthalazine also provides the parent compound in moderate yield. 

Unbumed Hydrocarbons Various unburned hydrocarbon species may be emitted from hydrocarbon flames. In general, there are two classes of unburned hydrocarbons (1) small molecules that are the intermediate products of combustion (for example, formaldehyde) and (2) larger molecules that are formed by pyro-synthesis in hot, fuel-rich zones within flames, e.g., benzene, toluene, xylene, and various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Many of these species are listed as Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) in Title III of the Clean Air Act Amendment of 1990 and are therefore of particular concern. In a well-adjusted combustion system, emission or HAPs is extremely low (typically, parts per trillion to parts per billion). However, emission of certain HAPs may be of concern in poorly designed or maladjusted systems. 

Pyrimidines have also served as electrophiles in crown synthesis from this group. 4,6-Dichloropyrimidine reacts with diethylene glycol and sodium hydride in anhydrous xylene solution to form the 20-crown-6 derivative as well as the other products shown in Eq. (3.48). Note that a closely related displacement on sy/rr-trichlorotriazine has been reported by Montanari in the formation of polypode molecules (see Eq. 7.5). 

The synthesis of meconin has been referred to already (p. 201). Cotarnine has been synthesised by Salway from myristicin (I) as a starting-point. This was transformed into jS-3-methoxy-4 5-methylenedioxy-phenylpropionic acid (II), the amide of which was converted by Hofmann s reaction into )S-3-methoxy-4 5-methylenedioxyphenylethylamine, and the phenylacetyl derivative (HI) of this condensed, by heating it in xylene solution with phosphoric oxide, giving rise to the two possible dihydroiso-quinoline derivatives. The first of these substances, 8-methoxy-6 7-methylenedipxy-1-benzyl-3 4-dihydroiioquinoline (IV), on conversion into the methochloride and reduction with tin and hydrochloric acid, gave... 

Spath and Lederer have published a simplified synthesis of harmaline consisting in treating the acetyl derivative of 6-methoxytryptamine (XXIX) with phosphorus pentoxide in boiling xylene, the harmaline thus produced being converted into harmine by catalytic dehydrogenation at 200°. 

Silver trifluoroacetate is used in a one step synthesis of bicyclo[3 2 2]nona-6,8-diene-3-one from 2-methoxyallyl bromide and benzene [50] (equation 23) Analogous reactions of toluene, p-xylene, and mesitylene yield the corre spending substituted bicyclo[3 2 2]noiia-6,8-diene-3-ones [50]... 

Attenlion should be drawn to ihe use of tin oxide systems as heterogeneous catalysts. The oldest and mosi extensively patented systems are the mixed lin-vanadium oxide catalysis for the oxidation of aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, xylenes and naphthalene in the. synthesis of organic acids and acid anhydride.s. More recenily mixed lin-aniimony oxides have been applied lo the selective oxidaiion and ammoxidaiion of propylene to acrolein, acrylic acid and acrylonilrile. 

For synthesis of the parent isoindole, Kreher and Seubert used the condensation of theo-xylene dibromide (23) with 0-benzylhydroxyl-amine (24) to give 2-henzyloxyisoindoline (25). Elimination occurred 25 A. H. Blatt, Chem. Rev. 27, 429 (1940). 

A mixture of 23 parts of the ethyl ester of 4 phenylisonipecotic acid and 15 parts of 2,2-diphenyl-4-bromobutyronitrile in 19 parts of xylene is heated for 24 hours at 100°-120°C and then cooled and filtered to remove the precipitate of the hydrobromide of the ethyl ester of 4-phenylisonipecotic acid. The filtrate is then extracted with dilute hydrochloric acid and the extract is rendered alkaline by addition of concentrated aqueous potassium hydroxide and extracted with ether. This ether extract is treated with gaseous hydrogen chloride. The resulting precipitate is collected on a filter. The hydrochloride of the ethyl ester of 2,2 diphenyl-4-(4 -carboxy-4 -phenyl-1 -piperidino) butyronitrile thus obtained melts at about 220.5-222°C. See Meperidine hydrochloride for synthesis of 4-phenyl-isonipecotic acid ethyl ester. 

Hexaethylphosphorous triamide, 46, 33 Hexamethylenetetramine, 46, 3 in synthesis of isophthalaldehyde from a,i/- Iiair ino m xylene, 47, 76 Hexametiiylpiiosphorous triamide, 46, 42... 

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