Synthesis of industrially important aromatic and heterocyclic ketones using hierarchical ZSM-5 and Beta zeolites

• Hierarchical ZSM-5 and Beta catalysts were investigated.
• Catalysts were investigated in acylation and benzoylation reactions.
• Industrially important aromatic/heterocyclic ketones were synthesized.
• Hierarchical Beta exhibited the highest activity in these reactions.
• Structure activity relationship is explained.

Hierarchical ZSM-5 and Beta zeolites were investigated in the synthesis of wide range of industrially important aromatic/heterocyclic ketones by Friedel–Crafts acylation and benzoylation reactions. For comparative study, conventional ZSM-5 and Beta, and amorphous mesoporous Al-MCM-41 were investigated. Hierarchical zeolites were prepared by multi-ammonium structure directing agents whereas conventional zeolites were prepared by mono-ammonium structure directing agents. Among the catalysts investigated in this study, hierarchical Beta exhibited the highest reactant conversion in the acylation and benzoylation reactions. In this study, the systematic assessment of the catalytic activity of acid catalysts for wide range of aromatic and heterocyclic compounds is shown under one umbrella. To the best of our knowledge, these reactions over hierarchical zeolites (ZSM-5 and Beta) are reported here for the first time. Structure activity relationship is explained based on the physico-chemical properties, molecular size, reactivity of reactants, and reaction mechanism. Catalysts can be easily recovered and reused with negligible loss in the catalytic activity.

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