Direct conversion of methanol into 1,1-dimethoxymethane: remarkably high productivity over an FeMo catalyst placed under unusual conditionsElectronic Supplementary Information (ESI) available: Preparation of the FeMo catalyst, composition of the FeMo catalysts, DSC, XRD, conversion curves, performances with time on stream, influence of GHSV. See DOI: 10.1039/c0gc00194e

We report here the highest productivity ever observed in the direct conversion of methanol into 1,1-dimethoxymethane (ca.4.6 kgDMMh−1kgcat−1at 553 K), this result being obtained over an FeMo catalyst. This catalyst is industrially used to selectively convert methanol into formaldehyde but has never before been applied to the present reaction. Placing this FeMo catalyst under unusual reaction conditions, i.e., using a feed rich in methanol, completely changed its behaviour in terms of selectivity: the massive production of 1,1-dimethoxymethane, instead of formaldehyde, was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]