Catalytic reaction of 1,3-butanediol over solid acids

Catalytic reaction of 1,3-butanediol over solid acids such as SiO2-Al2O3, Al2O3, ZrO2 and TiO2 was investigated. The catalytic activities of these acids were in good coincidence with their acid properties: strong acid catalysts, SiO2-Al2O3 and Al2O3, catalyzed dehydration of 1,3-butanediol at the reaction temperature below 250 degrees C, while weak acid catalysts, ZrO2 and TiO2, required the temperature above 325 degrees C to activate 1,3-butanediol. SiO2-Al2O3 catalyzed the dehydration of 1,3-butanediol into unsaturated alcohols, and consecutively dehydrated them into 1,3-butadiene. 4-Methyl-1,3-dioxane, which is the acetal compound of 1,3-butanediol and formaldehyde, was obtained with high selectivity over Al2O3. Several compounds were produced over TiO2 and ZrO2 owing to the side reactions such as dehydrogenation and hydrogenation. The characteristics in the reaction were discussed in connection with other reactions of monoalcohols and of the produced unsaturated alcohols. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.