Abstract
It was found that cyclopentene oxide (CPO) and 3, 4-epoxycyclopentene (5) were isomerized by gas-phase reaction with use of solid acid-base catalyst. The reaction conditions for isomerization of CPO to cyclopentanone (1) and (5) to 2-cyclopentenone (4), respectively, were investigated.
The products from CPO were (1), cyclopentanol, 2-cyclopentenol, (4), cyclopentene, and cyclo_pentadiene. When Cu-Zn was used as a catalyst, (1) was obtained in about 51% yield. In case of isomerization of (5) with use of Cu-Zn catalyst under reduced pressure, only (4) was produced. When SiO2-Al2O3 (Al2O3 : 28wt%) catalyst was used instead of Cu-Zn catalyst, (4) was obtained in about 90% yield. Activity and selectivity of SiO2-Al2O3 catalyst for the formation of (4) were excellent.
