POLYMER-SUPPORTED RHODIUM CATALYSTS FOR CARBONYLATION OF METHYL ACETATE TO ACETIC ANHYDRIDE

Two kinds of rhodium catalysts supported on cross-linked styrene-divinylben-zene copolymers containing bipyridine or o-phenylene diamine have been prepared and found to display high activity for methyl acetate carbonylation to form acetic anhydride, the activities are even higher than their homogeneous counterparts. XPS analysis was used to characterize the synthetic catalysts. The apparent activation parameters were determined to be Ea = 73. 3 KJ/mol, △H≠ = 66. 3KJ/mol, △S≠ = - 28.6eu. These parameters are very close to those in methanol carbonylation and imply to have analogous mechanism in both cases.