Alkylation of benzene with carbon monoxide over Zn/H-ZSM-5 zeolite studied using in situ solid-state NMR spectroscopy†
Abstract
Using in situ solid-state NMR spectroscopy we show that CO can act as an alkylating reagent and react with benzene to produce toluene over a Zn/H-ZSM-5 zeolite. In the alkylation reaction, CO provides the methyl group of toluene via a methoxy intermediate.