Methoxylation of a-pinene over silica-included heteropolyacids

Abstract

a-Pinene is a renewable raw material usually obtained from pine gum or as a waste from the Kraft process. Its acid catalysed methoxylation yields a complex mixture of monoterpenic ethers, being a-terpinyl methyl ether the main product. It is observed that the catalytic activity decreases in the series: PW_Silica > SiW_Silica > PMo_Silica > SiMo_Silica. The catalysts show good selectivity to the a-terpinyl methyl ether.