New method of production of vinyl ether by vapor phase intramolecular dehydration of glycol ether over solid catalysts

We found that the intramolecular dehydration of glycol ether (2-alkoxyethanol or 2-aryloxyethanol) to vinyl ether (alkyl vinyl ether or aryl vinyl ether) occurs when glycol ether is made contacted with metal oxide catalysts in the vapor phase. The catalytic performance of SiO2 catalyst alone was very low. Both the conversion of 2-alkoxyethanol and the selectivity for alkyl vinyl ether was markedly increased by the addition of cesium oxide to SiO2.The high activity and selectivity are considered to be due to the presence of both weak acid sites and weak base sites on the modified SiO2.

Graphical abstractNew method of production of vinyl ether (alkyl vinyl ether or aryl vinyl ether) was developed. 2-Alkoxyethanol or 2-aryloxyethanol is converted to corresponding vinyl ether over metal oxide catalysts in the vapor phase. Cesium oxide adeed-SiO2 catalyst shows high catalytic performance. Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide