Eric R. Marinez

Nafion-H catalysed isomerization of epoxides to aldehydes and ketones

Abstract Nafion-H, a perfluorinated resin sulphonic acid was found to be an efficient and simple catalyst for the isomerization of epoxides to ketones or aldehydes depending on the nature of the substituents on the epoxide carbons. The reaction is very straightforward giving the products in high yield. Isoamylene oxide (5) gave isopropyl methyl ketone (3) and styrene oxide and its derivatives (7a–g) gave phenylacetaldehyde and its derivatives (8a–g).

Acid‐catalyzed isobutane–isobutylene alkylation in liquid carbon dioxide solution

Liquid carbon dioxide was studied as a solvent for the isobutane–isobutylene alkylation. The acid catalysts in the reaction were anhydrous HF (AHF), pyridinium–poly(hydrogen fluoride) complex (PPHF), concentrated sulfuric acid and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFSA). The effect of the acid–hydrocarbon volume ratio, temperature and residence time on the alkylate quality were studied over the temperature range of 50 ⩾ T ⩾ 0 °C. Carbon dioxide as a competing weak base decreases the acidity of the system which parallels the alkylate quality. In the case of HF and TFSA catalysts, solvent CO2 increased the octane number of the alkylate product (RON 95.6 for HF‐ and 88.0 for TFSA‐catalyzed alkylation with CO2 solvent).