Alkylation of phenol with 1-propanol and 2-propanol over catalysts derived from hydrotalcite-like anionic clays

Vapour phase alkylation of phenol with 1-propanol and 2-propanol was carried out in a fixed-bed flow reactor over calcined magnesium aluminium hydrotalcites (MgAl-CHT) with Mg/Al atomic ratios 2, 3 and 4. MgAl 3.0-CHT showed higher phenol conversion (̃80% at 350°C) in the alkylation of phenol with 1-propanol. Both O- and C-alkylations were found to be taking place without any skeletal isomerization of the propyl moiety, suggesting an SN2 type mechanism. Isomorphous substitution of Mg2+ by Cu2+ or Ni2+ in the hydrotalcite framework resulted in the predominant C-alkylation to give 2-n-propylphenol (60-70%) with nearly 40-50% phenol conversion at 350°C. When 2-propanol was used as an alkylating agent, the phenol conversion decreased over all these catalysts and the alkylation was noticed exclusively at C-centers. Comparison of the product selectivity at constant phenol conversion revealed that CuAl 3.0-CHT is more selective for 2-n-propylphenol and 2-isopropylphenol in the reaction of phenol with 1-propanol and 2-propanol respectively. The participation of a pair of acid-base sites in the calcined hydrotalcites for the alkylation reaction has been proposed. The acid-base properties of these catalysts have been examined by the decomposition of cyclohexanol as a test reaction. Analysis of the spent catalysts revealed that Cu2+ in CuO gets reduced into Cu1+and metallic copper during the reaction in the case of CuAl-CHT, while MgO and NiO phases of MgAl-CHT and NiAl-CHT are retained.