Novel heterogeneously catalysed selective, solventless monotetrahydropyranylation of different symmetrical l,n-diols and various alcohols using ZrO2-pillared clay

ZrO2-pillared clay (Zr-PILC) a mild recyclable solid Lewis acid catalyst prepared by a short and simple novel method by us, has been used for the selective, monotetrahydropyranylation under solvent-free condition both by heating and microwave irradiation of 1,n-symmetrical diols and simple alcohols with good selectivity and conversion in high yields for the first time. HO-(CH2)(n)-OH + DHP -->(Zr-PILC)(MW) HO-(CH2)(n)-OTHP A comparative study with previously reported methods and other acid catalysts has been done to demonstrate the efficacy of the present developed methodology. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.