Shape Selectivity in Enol Thioether Synthesis Catalyzed by Zeolites

The competitive reaction catalyzed by solid acid catalyst between two cyclohexanones (1a) and (1b) with thiophenol (2) has been studied. No selectivity was observed with the lamellar montmorillonite in contrast with microporous aluminosilicates (zeolites) where shape selectivity was observed, in particularly when the zeolites were saturated by thiophenol (2) before a competitive reaction.