Methanolysis of Styrene Oxide over Iron Pillared Clay

Abstract

Iron pillared bentonite clay (12.0% Fe2O3) was synthesized and characterized by XRD, nitrogen adsorption, chemical composition and thermogravimetric analysis. The Fe pillared bentonite clay was an active catalyst in the methanolysis of styrene oxide due to its Lewis acidity. Under the reaction conditions: 50.0 mg of catalyst; 1 mmol of styrene oxide; 2 mmol of methanol and 5 ml of CH2Cl2 (solvent), 2-methoxy-2-phenylethanol (95%) was produced after 30 min reaction time at 55°C. The relative activity in alcoholysis of styrene oxide dropped significantly with increasing steric bulkiness of the alcohol. The catalyst was found to be recyclable four times with no loss of activity.