Microwave-assisted regioselective alkylation of naphthalene compounds using alcohols and zeolite catalysts Original Research Article

Regioselective alkylation of naphthalene compounds with alcohols smoothly proceeded in the presence of zeolite catalysts under microwave irradiation. A H-mordenite (H-M) zeolite catalyst (SiO2/Al2O3 ratio = 240) showed the highest efficiency. In the microwave reactions, high reaction rates and high selectivities for 2,6-dialkylnaphthalenes were achieved. In the best case for the reaction of 2-isopropylnaphthalene with isopropyl alcohol, the conversion and the selectivity were 43.5% and 66.4%, respectively. In di-tert-butylation of naphthalene with tert-butyl alcohol, the conversion and the selectivity reached 86.5% and 70.4%, respectively. The conversions and the selectivities were generally higher than those obtained by conventional oil bath heating.