Conversion of cyclohexanol to dicyclohexyl ether catalyzed by cation-exchanged bentonite clays

Bentonite clays modified by exchanging Al3+, Co2+ and its Na+ form were used in etherification of cyclohexanol to dicyclohexyl ether. Product yields obtained for metal cation exchanged clays followed the order Al3+ > Co2+ > Na+. Bronsted acidity of the solid catalysts is suggested to play the key role in the studied reaction.