Isomerization of 1-Butene and Alkylation of Phenol over Beryllium Oxide

The active sites on BeO were studied for the isomerization of n-butene and the alkylation of phenol in a flow reactor. Below, 260° C of reaction temperature, BeO was active for the isomerization of 1-butene to cis-2-butene and the active sites are mainly basic. On the other hand, above 260° C, the isomerization to trans-2-butene was predominant. This catalytic action is remarkably different from those of alkaline earth oxides (MgO, CaO etc. ). Main products from the alkylation of phenol were anisol, o-cresol, m+p-cresol and 2, 6- xylenol. In the temperature range of 300-400° C, the yield of anisol increased with the reaction temperature. o-Cresol, m+p-cresol and 2, 6-xylenol were obtained above 400° C (Fig.4). These results are quite similar to that of alkylation over active-Al2: 4 catalyst. Molar ratio of anisol/ o-cresol obtained was 3.71 at the initial stage. The yield of anisol was more strongly decreased by pyridine poisoning to BeO catalyst than that of o-cresol (Fig.5). From these results, we concluded that BeO has hoth basic and acidic active sites.