Selective oxidation of methanol to dimethoxymethane over bifunctional VO_x/TS-1 catalysts

摘要

This communication describes the design of bifunctional VO_X/TS-1 catalysts with enhanced redox and acidic character via doping SO_4~(2-) and PO_4~(3-) for selective oxidation of methanol to dimethoxymethane. Redox sites enable the production of formaldehyde, while acidic sites favor the condensation of formaldehyde to DMM. Numerous efforts have been made to develop catalysts for selective oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde (FA), formic acid, methyl formate (MF), and dimethoxymethane (DMM). Particularly, DMM is typically considered as a by-product in this catalytic system and its formation pathway is less understood. Indeed, DMM is an important intermediate, and has been widely used as a diesel fuel additive and as an organic synthesis reagent. It has been also utilized as an excellent solvent in pharmaceutical and perfume industries due to low toxicity.