Intraparticle Diffusional Effects vs. Site Effects on Reaction Pathways in Liquid-Phase Cross Aldol Reactions

Chemo- and regioselectivity in a heterogeneously catalyzed cross aldol reaction were directed by tuning the nature of the sites, textural properties and reaction conditions. Catalysts included sulfonic-acid functionalized resins or SBA-15 with varying particle size or pore diameter, H-BEA zeolites, and Sn-BEA
zeotype; conditions were 25 °C to 170 °C in organic media. Benzaldehyde and 2-butanone yielded branched (reaction at -CH2- of butanone) and linear (reaction at -CH3) addition and condensation
products; and fission of the branched aldol led to β-methyl styrene and acetic acid. Strong acids promoted the dehydration step, and regioselectivity originated from preferred formation of the branched aldol. Both, resins and functionalized SBA-15 materials yielded predominantly the branched condensation product, unless particle morphology or temperature moved the reaction into the diffusion-limited regime, in which case more fission products were formed, corresponding to Wheeler Type II selectivity. For Hform zeolites, fission of the branched aldol competed with dehydration of the linear aldol, possibly because weaker acidity or steric restrictions prevented dehydration of the branched aldol.