Ether synthesis from alcohol and aldehyde in the presence of hydrogen and palladium deposited on charcoal

The synthesis of ether from octanal and butanol was investigated on a Pd/C catalyst at 100 degrees C under hydrogen pressure. It was shown that the acidity of the catalyst support allows conversion of the octanal mainly to dibutylketal and to traces of enolether under the equilibrium conditions. The enolether is hydrogenated to butyloctylether on the palladium particles. The reduction procedure of the Pd/C catalyst has a high influence on the rate of ether formation. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.