Surface base property of magnesium oxide can be modified by the addition of metal ion. The addition of metal ion with larger ionic radius than Mg2+ causes the increase of the amount of surface base site, whereas the addition of metal ion with smaller ionic radius than Mg2+ shows not to be effective.
The work described was supported by the Australian Research Grants Scheme. It was presented in part at the 14th Australian Polymer Symposium, Ballarat, Victoria, February 1984.
COMMUNICATIONSSelective Synthesis of Acrylonitrile from Acetonitrile and Methanol over Basic Metal Oxide Catalysts Catalytic synthesis of acrylonitrile from acetonitrile and methanol was achieved by using basic metal oxide catalysts based on magnesium oxide. At elevated temperature (>350 °C), acrylonitrile was yielded selectively (>90%) with minor amounts of propionitrile and methacrylonitrile. The rate-determining step of the reaction is the abstraction of the proton from the methyl group of acetonitrile by the surface basic site on the oxide catalyst, followed by C=C bond formation with methanol adsorbed on the oxide surface.
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