Hydration of Olefins into Alcohols

Abstract

Review on hydration of olefins into alcohols is presented. It is shown that mineral acids (H2SO4, H3PO4), their salts, molybdenum and tungsten heteropolyacids of 12 range and zeolites are used as the catalysts. The reaction proceeds with high selectivity at 1-100 atm pressure and 473-673 K through carbonium ion formed via interaction of adsorbed olefin with proton H+ and then with H2O yielding alcohol. It is concluded that for gas phase hydration of olefins use of proton substituted zeolites with ratio Si / Al = 7 - 9 and strength of Bronsted centers from -8.2 to - 5.6, with high heat of adsorption for olefins and low heat of adsorption for water is effective instead of mineral acids on SiO2.