Selective preparation of 3,5-diethylpyridine from <i>n</i>-butanol, formaldehyde and ammonia over modified ZSM-5 catalysts

Abstract

The reaction of <em>n</em>-butanol, formaldehyde and ammonia has been carried out over modified ZSM-S catalysts, to get 3,S diethylpyridine selectively. Among all the catalysts ZrZSM-5 has shown high activity with 73.4 wt% of 3,5-diethylpyridine at 97.0 wt% conversion of <em>n</em>- butanol. The effects of temperature, WHSV and molar ratio have been studied in the synthesis of 3,S-diethylpyridine over ZrZSM-S. The other major products are lutidines and collidines. Our studies have shown that modified ZSM-S catalysts can be used for the synthesis of pyridine and substituted pyridines from various alcohols or aldehydes via dehydrocyclization and dehydrogenation.