S. Nagashima, H. Yamazaki, Kentaro Kudo
Aug 15, 2013
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Journal
Applied Catalysis A-general
Abstract
Abstract Benzenethiol is reacted with acetic acid in a hydrogen stream over [(Mo6Cl8)Cl4(H2O)2]·6H2O. Catalytic activity of the clusters appears above 200 °C, yielding S-phenyl thioacetate. The selectivity is 98% at 300 °C. Niobium, tantalum, and tungsten halide clusters with the same octahedral metal framework also catalyze the reaction. Benzoic acid and aliphatic carboxylic acids afford the corresponding S-phenyl carbothioates by reaction with benzenethiol. Aliphatic thiols are also S-acylated to yield the corresponding S-alkyl carbothioates. When carboxylic esters are applied to the reaction with benzenethiol over [(Nb6Cl12)Cl2(H2O)4]·4H2O at 450 °C, the sterically unhindered moiety of the ester is incorporated into the products: S-phenyl thioacetate or methyl phenyl sulfide is obtained selectively. A Bronsted acid site developed on the cluster complex by thermal activation is the active site of the catalyst. Hence, solid acids such as silica–alumina, zeolites, and heteropoly acids that are stable above 200 °C also catalyze these reactions.