Synthesis of 3,5-lutidine from propionaldehyde over modified ZSM-5 catalysts Original Research Article

The reaction of propionaldehyde, formaldehyde and ammonia was carried out over modified H-ZSM-5 catalysts. Typically over H-ZSM-5 (Si/Al = 150), at 400°C, the yield of 3,5-lutidine was 63.1 wt.-% at 66.2% conversion of propionaldehyde. The cation effect was observed in the increase of collidines in the product. Our studies have established that useful substituted pyridines can be synthesized from C1–C4 aldehydes and alcohols in the presence of ammonia via dehydrocyclization and dehydrogenation.