Nitration of o-xylene over rare earth cations exchanged zeolite-β with nitric acid and acetic anhydride

Abstract

Liquid phase nitration of o-xylene was studied with sulfated silica, sulfated zirconia, zeolite H-β and rare earth cations exchanged zeolite-β with nitric acid and acetic anhydride/1,2-dichloroethane as solvent. H-β and rare earth exchanged zeolite-β were found to be efficient solid acid catalysts both in acetic anhydride and 1,2-dichloroethane. Nitration with nitric acid and acetic anhydride via acetyl nitrate as nitrating species is efficient and preferable rather than reaction in 1,2-dichloroethane solvent. Among the lanthanides studied Ce-β gave maximum conversion 86% with 58% para selectivity in acetic anhydride. The catalyst can be easily recovered and regenerated thus providing economic and environmentally friendly method for nitration reaction.