Catalytic activity of nano mesoporous lanthanum oxide for liquid phase benzylation of o-Xylene.

Nano mesoporous lanthanum oxide (La2O3) was synthesized by the starch template method. The physicochemical characterization of La2O3 was performed by versatile techniques like TGA-DTG/DSC, XRD, FT-IR, TEM and Surface area and porosity measurements. Nano mesoporous La2O3 prove to be a useful catalyst for Friedel Crafts benzylation of o-xylene (o-Xyl) using benzyl chloride (BC). The effect of reaction temperature, catalyst loading and reaction time on benzylation of o-Xyl was investigated at different BC/o-Xyl molar ratio. High BC conversion with good 3,4-dimethyl diphenylmethane (3,4-DMDPM) selectivity was achieved with 0.1 g catalyst at a temperature of 433 K, 2 h of reaction time and 1:1 reactant molar ratio. 3, 4-DMDPM was obtained as the major product regardless of temperature, time and reactant molar ratio. The BC conversion and selectivity were found to increases with reaction time, temperature and catalyst dose and decrease with increase with reactant molar ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]