Selective liquid-phase hydrogenation of acetophenone and 1-indanone over Cu-based catalysts

NICOLÁS M. BERTERO; CARLOS R. APESTEGUÍA; ALBERTO J. MARCHI

Glasgow

Congreso; X Europacat; 2011

In this work, the liquid-phase hydrogenation of acetophenone and 1-indanone over solid Cu-based catalysts is proposed as an eco-compatible alternative for producing 1-phenylethanol and 1-indanol. Cu/SiO2 catalyst was prepared by incipient wetness impregnation using aqueous solutions of 0.57 M Cu(NO3)2 and a commercial silica. Cu-Zn-Al catalyst was prepared by coprecipitation at pH=7. Samples characterization was performed by XRD, TPR, N2 physisorption at 77 K and H2 chemisorption. Catalytic tests were carried out in liquid phase at 363 K and 10 bar, in a 600 ml batch reactor, using 1 g of catalyst, 0.025 mol of acetophenone/1-indanone and 150 ml of cyclohexane as solvent. Both Cu/SiO2 and Cu-Zn- Al were highly selective to the alcohol. Alcohol yields between 85 and 97% were reached. In summary, acetophenone and 1-indanone can be selectively hydrogenated in liquid phase to the corresponding aromatic alcohol over Cu/SiO2 and Cu-Zn-Al catalysts using mild conditions, being Cu-Zn-Al more active tan Cu/SiO2. The results obtained in this work reveals the potential of these eco-friendly catalysts for producing fine chemicals.