Styrene from Toluene by Side Chain Alkylation over a Novel Solid Acid-base Catalyst

Abstract

A novel solid acid-base catalyst with aluminum and nitrogen was prepared from aluminum and amine by using triblock copolymer Pluronic F127 as a template and resol as a framework via evaporation-induced organic–organic assembly method. The catalyst was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectra. The acid-base properties of the catalyst were determined by temperature-programmed desorption using CO₂ and NH₃ as probe molecules, and the side chain alkylation of toluene with methanol over the catalyst has been investigated. The results show that the catalyst demonstrates the higher activity and selectivity.

Keywords:

• characterization
• solid acid-base catalyst
• styrene
• synthesis
• toluene alkylation