Preparation of Sulphonated Zirconium Phosphate-Phenylphosphonates and Their Catalytic Properties in Carbonylation of Formaldehyde

Zirconium phenyl phosphonate Zr(C(6)H(5)PO(3))(2)center dot nH(2)O and its derivatives Zr(C(6)H(5)PO(3))(2)center dot(HPO(4))(x)center dot nH(2)O and Zr(C(6)H(5)PO(3))(2-x)(HPO(3))(x)center dot nH(2)O were synthesized and sulphonated. The pre- and post-sulfonation samples were characterized by inductively coupled plasma, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, and infrared spectroscopy. The samples are all typical layered crystal with different interlayer spacings. Zirconium phosphate sulfophenylphosphonates (SZrPP-n) possessed high acidity amount and thermal stability. SZrPP-n was found to be an efficient and stable solid acid catalyst for carbonylation of formaldehyde.