Epoxidation of cyclohexene over basic mixed oxides derived from hydrotalcite materials: Activating agent, solvent and catalyst reutilization

Synthesis and characterization of basic hydrotalcite-like derived catalysts were carried out and the resulting materials were tested in cyclohexene epoxidation. The reaction being dependent on the activating agent and the solvent of the reaction. Several nitriles and amides were used as activating agents and various compounds of different nature (protic and aprotic, polar and apolar) were analyzed as epoxidation solvents. The highest epoxide yield and cyclohexene conversion were achieved by using benzonitrile and methanol as activating agent and solvent, respectively. In the present work the reutilization of these solids in cyclohexene epoxidation has been tested by regeneration. The catalyst washed with the solvent after one reaction did not enhance the catalytic properties of the fresh solid. Nevertheless the activation of the solid up 600 °C provided a good activity after four runs.