The production of ethyl acetate from ethylene and acetic acid using clay catalysts

Abstract

AbstractWyoming bentonite, exchanged with cations of high charge density, is an efficient and selective catalyst for the production of ethyl acetate, in a single step, from ethylene and acetic acid. The reaction occurs in the interlamellar space of the clay where it is proposed that strong Brönsted acid sites on the clay coupled with highly polarized intercalated reactants produce a reaction which is otherwise difficult to carry out.