Conversion of 1-butanol into High Value-Added Chemicals by Mixed Metal Oxides: The Influence of Co2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ into Condensed Phase Products Distribution

The catalytic transformation of 1-butanol into condensed products by mixed metal oxides, based on Mg2+ and Al3+, containing Co2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+, into ethers, aldehydes, alkenes, ketones, alkylbenzenes, and phenolic compounds is described. The reactions were conducted at 550 and 600 degrees C, with and without methanol co-feeding. The presence of Co2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+ in the catalyst structure, together with the reaction temperature and methanol co-feeding, allowed the modulation of the yield and selectivity of each class of product. Also, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that phenolic compounds were produced from 1-butanol, and due to the nature of the condensed products found, the Robinson annulation was proposed as the reaction mechanism. The methodology herein described uses a renewable carbon source, is greener than the current ones for synthesizing the classes of compounds mentioned earlier, and can be an alternative for raw materials currently obtained exclusively from petroleum. [Graphical Abstract]