Reaction of 2-propanol over alumina in the presence of methyl acetate. Evidence for the nature of adsorption

Chemistry Department, Kirori Mal College, Delhi University Campus, Delhi-110 007, India

Manuscript received 4 January 2000. accepted 9 March 2000

Dehydration of 2-propanol over alumina at 280° has been studied in the presence of methyl acetate as a co-reactant. Even as low as 2 mol% of methyl acetate strongly inhibits the dehydration reaction (alkene and ether formation). Co-adsorption of methyl acetate leads to the formations of 2-propyl acetate (ester exchange) and methyl 2-propyl ether (ether formation) as competing reactions at low concentrations of methyl acetate and the only reactions at more than 50 mol% of methyl acetate.