CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF ALCOHOLS .11. INFLUENCE OF PREPARATION AND PRETREATMENT ON THE SELECTIVITY OF ZIRCONIA

Zirconia has been found to resemble thoria for both dehydration and 1-alkene selectivities in 2-ol conversions. Its catalytic properties differ greatly from two other members of the group 4B family, titania and hafnia. Pretreatment and preparation play a role in determining the selectivity for dehydration and 1-alkene formation. Some zirconia samples may convert 2-ols to greater than 95% of the 1-alkene isomer. Isomerization of the pure cIs-2 or trans-2-methylcyclohexanol occurred and each isomer produced the same, nonequilibrium amount of 3-methylcyclohexene. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.