Silica and alumina modified by Lewis acids as catalysts in Diels-Alder reactions of carbonyl-containing dienophiles

Abstract

Several aluminium and titanium derivatives are supported on silica and alumina. Some of the solids obtained contain strong Lewis acids sites and are efficient catalysts in Diels-Alder reactions of carbonyl-containing dienophiles. In cyclopentadiene reactions, high conversions and endo/exo selectivities are obtained in short reaction times, without excess of diene and with a small amount of catalyst at room temperature. With less reactive dienes, temperature, diene proportion and reaction times must be increased. However, high regio and endo/exo selectivities are obtained. The catalyst obtained by treatment of silica with diethyl aluminium chloride retains a great deal of its catalytic activity when recovered or stored in the open air for one month. © 1993.