Process of preparing diaryl ethers over a dealuminated zeolite catalyst
AssigneeThe Dow Chemical Company
InventorsGary R. Buske, Juan M. Garces, William P. Dianis
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Abstract
A process of preparing diaryl ethers, such as diphenyl oxide, involving dehydrating a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound, such as phenol, over a zeolite catalyst. The preferred zeolites are dealuminated acid mordenite and dealuminated zeolite Y.
Claims27
A process of preparing a diaryl ether comprising contacting a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound with a catalytic amount of a zeolite selected from the group consisting of dealuminated acidic mordenite, zeolite .beta. and dealuminated zeolite L, the mordenite zeolite being characterized as having a silica to alumina molar ratio of at least about 40 and the .beta. and L zeolites being characterized as having a silica to alumina molar ratio of at least about 20, the contacting occurring under reaction conditions such that a diaryl ether is formed.
A process of preparing diphenyl oxide comprising contacting liquid phenol with a dealuminated acidic mordenite zeolite having a silica to alumina molar ratio of at least about 40 at a temperature in the range from about 200.degree. C. to about 450.degree. C. and at a pressure in the range from sub-atmospheric to about 1500 psig such that the phenol conversion is at least about 20 weight percent and diphenyl oxide is formed in a selectivity of at least about 80 mole percent.
A process of preparing a diaryl ether comprising contacting a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound with a catalytic amount of a dealuminated zeolite Y having a silica to alumina molar ratio greater than 20, the contacting occurring at a temperature in the range from about 200.degree. C. to about 300.degree. C. and under reaction conditions such that diaryl ether is formed in a selectivity of greater than about 70 weight percent, measured as the weight percentage of diaryl ether found in the observed products excluding hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound and any optional solvent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.