ION-EXCHANGE RESIN CATALYZED HYDRATION OF ALPHA-METHYLSTYRENE AND ETHERIFICATION OF ALPHA-METHYLSTYRENE WITH METHANOL

Hydration and etherification of alpha-methylstyrene (AMS) were carried out in the temperature range of 40-60-degrees-C with different cation-exchangers, such as Amberlyst-15, Lewatit SPC-118 (now referred to as K2611), Amberlite IR-120, etc. When hydration was carried out in the liquid-liquid-solid mode, with Amberlyst-15 as the catalyst, there was hardly any conversion of AMS to its hydrated product, dimethyl phenyl carbinol (DMPC). With isopropanol as a co-solvent and the correct mole ratio of water to alkene, selective hydration could be realised. The effect of temperature on the reaction was also studied. In the case of etherification, the rate of reaction was markedly dependent on the concentration of methanol. Etherification reaction was also studied in the presence of 98% H2SO4 as the catalyst.