Intercalation of hydrotalcite-like anionic clays with boron anions and their effect on cyclohexanone oxime isomerization

Intercalated boron anions in hydrotalcite-like compounds (B-HTlc) were obtained by ionic-exchange of an adipate-containing hydrotalcite and coprecipitation. Catalysts have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The ionic exchange method seems to allow a greater distribution of boron oxides on the outer surface than the coprecipitated sample. Catalytic tests – on the rearrangement of cyclohexanone oxime into caprolactam, on exchanged and coprecipitated samples compared with a catalyst obtained by impregnation of a Mg/Al oxide – clearly indicate that caprolactam formation is strictly related to the surface features of these materials.