25-P-08-1-acetyl-2-methoxynaphthalene isomerization over zeolites. Effect of pore structure

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the isomerization of 1-acetyl-2-methoxynaphthalene over HFAU, HBEA, and HMFI zeolites (batch reactor, T=120°C). Becuase of its pore size, HMFI is inactive for isomerization while HFAU is about three times more active than HBEA. This can be attributed to the easier desorption of the isomers from the HFAU pores. However, the selectivity of 2-acetyl-6 methoxynaphthalene (the desired isomer) is favored over HBEA. Analysis of the compounds retained in the zeolite pores show that the reaction occurs inside the micropores of the zeolites.The desired isomer is retained in the pores of HMFI showing that even for this zeolite, isomerization occurs in its micropores and that the desorption of the reaction products appears to be the limiting step.