A series of novel heterogeneous catalysts have been synthesized through intercalation reaction of sodium montmorillonite clay (Na-MMT) with polymeric quaternary ammonium salts. The resulting solid catalysts have been utilized in triphase catalysis which is a unique branch of phase transfer catalysis (PTC). In triphase catalysis, reactants and the catalyst are located in various phases such as water, organic and solid phase. In this study, low molecular weight polyimide as well as various molecular weight poly (propylene glycol)bis(2-aminopropyl ether) with an average molecular weight of 2000 and 4000 has been used to synthesize the polymer-MMT composites as a catalyst. Catalytic activity of these organo-clays structures have been tested in several nucleophilic displacement reactions such as conversion of n-butyl bromide to n-butyl acetate and iodide under a triphase reaction condition. Pseudo-first order kinetics has been observed with various catalytic activities. These kinds of polymer-MMT composite may provide a potential for synthesizing more robust and heat resistant heterogeneous catalysts than traditional organo-clay using quaternary ammonium catalyst.

Utilization of polymeric quaternary ammonium salts-clay composite in triphase catalysis

249th National Meeting (2015)

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