PREPARATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND CATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF A NEW SOLID ACID CATALYST SYSTEM

A series of novel, solid, strong acids have been prepared by the reaction of inorganic oxides with A12Cl6. The objective was to create a solid acid with tetrahedral aluminum centers, which are expected to be stronger Lewis acids than octahedral aluminum centers. Investigations of the acid sites of these solids by the infrared spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine, calorimetric titrations, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance confirm that new strong solid acids have been prepared. The systems exhibit high catalytic activity and selectivity for acid-catalyzed cracking reactions under very mild conditions where present commercial catalysts do not react. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.