Use of delaminated zeolites (ITQ-2) and mesoporous molecular sieves in the production of fine chemicals:: Preparation of dimethylacetals and tetrahydropyranylation of alcohols and phenols

Protection of aldehydes by formation of the corresponding dimethyl acetals and protection of alcohols and phenols by formation of the corresponding tetrahydropyranyl ethers have been carried out successfully using ITQ-2 zeolite as acid catalyst. Its catalytic activity for these reactions is compared with those obtained with MCM-22, Beta zeolites, and the mesoporous aluminosilicate MCM-41, all of them with similar Si/Al ratios. The results obtained indicate that when the reactions involve bulky reactants, ITQ-2 shows, in all cases, the highest activity as a consequence of the combination of its delaminated structure and the presence of strong acid sites. (C) 2000 Academic Press.