The isopropylation of naphthalene with propene over H-mordenite: The catalysis at the internal and external acid sites

The isopropylation of naphthalene (NP) with propene over H-Mordenite (MOR) was studied under a wide range of reaction parameters: temperature, propene pressure, period, and NP/MOR ratio. Selective formation of 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene (2,6-DIPN) was observed at reaction conditions, such as at low reaction temperature, under high propene pressure, and/or with high NP/MOR ratio. However, the decrease in the selectivities for 2,6-DIPN was observed at reaction conditions such as at high temperature, under low propene pressure, and/or with low NP/MOR ratio. The selectivities for 2,6-DIPN in the encapsulated products were remained high and constant under all reaction conditions. These results indicate that the selective formation of 2,6-DIPN occurs through the least bulky transition state due to the exclusion of the bulky isomers by the MOR channels. The decrease in the selectivities for 2,6-DIPN are due to the isomerization of 2,6-DIPN to 2,7-DIPN at the external acid sites, directing towards thermodynamic equilibrium of DIPN isomers. (C) 2014 Elsevier BA,. All rights reserved.