Sulfonated nanoporous activated carbons for catalytic isopropyl alcohol dehydration

Sulfonation of nanoporous activated carbon (NAC) was performed in the different ways available within the synthetic organic chemistry armory for preparing solid acid catalysts of isopropyl alcohol dehydration (IDH). The sulfonated NACs, with from 0.15 to 1.0 mmol of sulfo groups per gram of NAC, have good catalytic performance. Sulfonated oligo- and poly(α-methylstyrene)s grafted on the oxidized NAC exhibited superior catalytic activity and high stability in the IDH reaction. Conversion of isopropyl alcohol to propene of about 100% was achieved with these catalysts at temperatures in the range of 140–170 °C. Most catalysts obtained are active in the IDH reaction; however, we observed that the propene yield depends on the method used for the NAC sulfonation.