Vapor-Phase Alkylation of Toluene with Isopropanol over Mg/Al, Ni/Al and Cu/Al Hydrotalcites (Layered Double Hydroxide)

Vapor-phase isopropylation of toluene has been carried out over Mg/Al, Ni/Al and Cu/Al calcined hydrotalcites (CHTs). Reaction conditions were optimized for alkylation by varying temperature, weight hourly space velocity and reactant mole ratio. Side-chain alkylation is found to be more predominant than ring alkylation over Mg/Al CHT, while Ni/Al and Cu/Al CHTs favored ring alkylation. The main products were isobutylbenzene and cymene. The combined participation of acidic and basic sites of the materials is found to be crucial for both side-chain and ring alkylation of toluene with isopropanol. An X-ray diffraction pattern of the resulting oxide indicates a diffuse MgO structure. The incorporation of small amounts of Al³⁺ to MgO generates new surface Lewis acid--base pair sites.