Silica-supported heteropolyacids as catalysts in alcohol dehydration reactions

Catalysts based on Keggin-type heteropolyacids supported on silica were prepared for their use in dehydration of alcohols in liquid phase. Species present in the catalysts were characterized by diverse physicochemical techniques, disclosing that both molybdophosphoric and tungstophosphoric acids are found with their primary Keggin structure intact. Their catalytic behavior was studied in the dehydration of alcohol of interest for the production of intermediary compounds for fine chemical industries. Specifically, the dehydration of 1,2-diphenylethanol, 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-phenylethanol and cholesterol was studied. It was obtained a process for the direct dehydration of cholesterol. It was found that the catalysts are very active and selective, also allowing an easy separation from the reaction medium. The same catalysts were used several times without appreciable loss of catalytic activity and after the reaction they showed physicochemical properties similar to those of the original catalysts.