Alkylation–acylation of p-xylene with γ-butyrolactone or vinylacetic acid catalyzed by heteropolyacid supported on silica

Friedel–Crafts-type reaction of p -xylene with γ-butyrolactone or vinylacetic acid over H 4 SiW 12 O 40 supported on SiO 2 have been investigated with different loadings of H 4 SiW 12 O 40 . The catalytic performance of H 4 SiW 12 O 40 /SiO 2 have been compared with those of typical solid acid catalysts such as zeolites, ion-exchanged resins, and binary oxides. H 4 SiW 12 O 40 supported on SiO 2 was superior in activity and selectivity to 5,8-dimethyl-α-tetralone compared to other catalysts for the reaction between p -xylene and γ-butyrolactone. SiO 2 -supported H 4 SiW 12 O 40 also was efficient for the formation of 3,4,7-tetramethyl-α-indanone from p -xylene and vinylacetic acid. The formation of 5,8-dimethyl-α-tetralone is extremely sensitive to the load of H 4 SiW 12 O 40 on SiO 2 , reaching a maximum at approximately 30 wt%, due to the change in the acid amount of the outermost surface as determined by benzonitrile-temperature programmed desorption. By analogy with reaction between 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene and γ-butyrolactone, the reaction pathway involves initial alkylation of p -xylene with γ-butyrolactone, followed by intramolecular acylation to 5,8-dimethyl-α-tetralone, which was supported by quantum calculations of γ-butyrolactone and protonated γ-butyrolactone.