Friedel–Crafts Hydroxyalkylation of Anisole Over Oxalic Acid Modified Hβ Zeolite

AbstractOxalic acid modified Hβ (OA-Hβ) zeolite is found to have better catalytic performance than Hβ zeolite in the Friedel-Crafts hydroxyalkylation of anisole with chloral. This is attributed to the increase of weak and moderately-strong acid sites, caused by oxalic acid modification. Furthermore, it is believed that the carbonaceous deposits on the acid sites and the blockage of the pores, together with poisoning by chlorinated materials, are responsible for the deactivation of OA-Hβ zeolite, as indicated by NH 3 -TPD, BET, SEM, TG and XPS measurement results. Moreover, partial regeneration of OA-Hβ zeolite can be achieved via subsequent calcination.Graphical AbstractOxalic acid modified Hβ zeolite is found to have better catalytic performance than Hβ zeolite in the Friedel-Crafts hydroxyalkylation of anisole with chloral. The carbonaceous deposits on the acid sites and the blockage of the pores, together with poisoning by chlorinated materials, are responsible for the deactivation of OA-Hβ zeolite.[IMAGE]