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Kinetics and mechanism of methanol carbonylation over Rh-Y zeolite

Journal Article · · J. Catal.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6313050

The carbonylation of methanol on a 4.4% rhodium(III)-exchanged Y-zeolite in the presence of methyl iodide yielded methyl acetate as only carbonylation product up to 30% conversion (and dimethyl ether as by-product) in a reaction that was zero order in carbon monoxide and methanol, proportional to the methyl iodide partial pressure, and had activation energy of 5.65 kj/mole at 428/sup 0/-473/sup 0/K. Over 95% of the methyl iodide was recoverable. These values were very similar to the known kinetic parameters of the homogeneous reaction catalyzed by rhodium complexes, and a similar mechanism was proposed and confirmed in experiments with ethyl iodide and perdeuterated methanol. The mechanism involves oxidative addition of methyl iodide to the active rhodium site, insertion of carbon monoxide into the methyl-rhodium bond, methanolysis of the acetyl-rhodium bond, reductive dissociation of hydrogen iodide from rhodium, and regeneration of methyl iodide by reaction of hydrogen iodide with methanol.

Research Organization:
Tokyo Inst. of Technology
OSTI ID:
6313050
Journal Information:
J. Catal.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Catal.; (United States) Vol. 59:1; ISSN JCTLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English