Highly regioselective di-tert-amylation of naphthalene over reusable H-mordenite zeolite

Highly regioselective di-tert-amylation of naphthalene using different alcohols can be achieved over a H-mordenite (HM) zeolite. For example, the tert-amylation of naphthalene using tert-amyl alcohol in cyclohexane over HM (Si/Al = 10) zeolite has been optimised to give a 70% yield of 2,6-dialkylnaphthalenes, of which 2,6-di-tert-amylnaphthalene was produced in 46% yield along with 2-tert-amyl-6-tert-butylnaphthalene (23%) and 2,6-di-tert-butylnaphthalene (1%). This has been achieved by varying the reaction time, temperature, pressure and amounts of tert-amyl alcohol and zeolite. No 2,7-dialkylnaphthalenes were seen under the conditions tried. The zeolites can be easily regenerated by heating and then reused.