REACTION ANALYSIS OF AROMATIC RING METHYLATION WITH SUPERCRITICAL METHANOL IN THE PRESENCE OF ZEOLITE CATALYST

摘要

It has been found that industrially important methylated compound 4,4'-dimethylbiphenyl could be produced with high selectivity by the reaction of 4-methylbiphenyl with supercritical methanol over SAPO-11 catalyst. The reaction was investigated as a function of zeolite type, temperature and methanol density. In addition, we developed an unique high temperature and pressure optical cell with a diamond as an attenuated total reflection element to measure infrared spectra of reactive intermediates on catalyst surface at reaction conditions. This spectral technique can literally open the window into the industrial chemical reactors.