Recent advance in shape-selective catalysis over zeolites for synthesis of specialty chemicals

This paper discusses the application of zeolite catalysts for shape-selective conversion of 2-ring and 3-ring polycyclic hydrocarbons into value-added intermediates for making specialty chemicals and monomers of new polymer materials such as advanced engineering plastics, polyester fibers and films, and liquid crystalline polymers. Specifically, we will discuss the new developments in the following reactions over large-pore zeolite catalysts: 1) ring-shift isomerization of phenanthrene derivatives to anthracene derivatives; 2) shape-selective alkylation of naphthalene; 3) shape-selective alkylation of biphenyl; 4) conformational isomerization of cis-decahydronaphthalene into trans-decahydronaphthalene; and 5) shape-selective hydrogenation of naphthalene.