Mesoporous Organosilicas with Arylsulfonic Acid Bridging Groups in the Alkylation of Isobutylene by Ethanol

Sulfonation of mesoporous organosilicas with diethylxylene bridging groups using chlorosulfonic acid gave mesoporous silicas with arylsulfonic acid bridging groups. TPD-MS was used to confirm the structure and characterize the thermal stability of the organic groups of the starting and sulfonated samples. The catalytic activity of mesoporous silicas with arylsulfonic acid bridging groups in the synthesis of ethyl tert -butyl ether is higher than for model samples (MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves and silica gel with anchored alkylsulfonic acid groups as well as SiO 2 /Nafion nanocomposite) and is similar to the activity of industrial catalysts such as Amberlyst-15.