Vapor-phase intramolecular aldol condensation of 2,5-hexanedione over yttrium zirconate catalyst

Vapor-phase intramolecular aldol condensation of 2,5-hexanedione (2,5-HD) to 3-methyl-2-cyclopentenone (MCP) was performed over several rare-earth zirconate catalysts, with yttrium zirconate (YZrO) emerged as the most efficient catalyst. Several parameters, such as Y content, calcination temperature, reaction temperature, and contact time, highly influenced the catalytic performance of the YZrO catalyst: YZrO calcined at 700 degrees C exhibited the highest catalytic activity but still suffered from catalyst deactivation due to coke formation. Modifying the YZrO with Ag and employing the modified catalyst in an H2 flow effectively reduced the coke accumulation, thus improving the catalytic stability during the aldol condensation of 2,5-HD at 350 degrees C. The poisoning experiment with the co-fed of acidic CO2 gas and basic molecules of 2,6-, and 3,5-dimethylpyridine suggested that the aldol condensation proceeded via an acid-base concerted mechanism.