The influence of zinc ions discharged in a non-aqueous cell on a copper catalyst on the rate of cyclohexanol dehydrogenation reaction

Results of studies on the influence of a copper catalyst modification with zinc ions on the activity in the reaction of cyclohexanol dehydrogenation are presented. The modification has been performed by electrochemical discharging-insertion of zinc ions on a copper electrode in a non-aqueous cell. It has been demonstrated that the catalyst activity depends on the amount of discharged zinc ions as well as on the nature and concentration of the electrolyte. In the case of zinc ions discharged from a solution of ZnCl₂ in propylene carbonate, the yield of cyclohexanone increased up to five times and using Zn(BF₄)₂ in dimethylformamide almost twenty times. The activity of the system in the competing reaction of dehydration was low, hence the selectivity in the dehydrogenation reaction was high.