Improved Regioselective Mononitration of Naphthalene over Modified BEA Zeolite Catalysts

HBEA zeolite modified with highly electronegative cations is a highly efficient and reusable catalyst for the nitration of naphthalene with nitric acid, which has been successfully prepared in this work. Catalytic selective mononitration of naphthalene was investigated. The ratio of 1-nitronaphthalene isomer to 2-nitronaphthalene could reach 19.2, with a moderate yield of 68.2%, when the reaction was carried out in 1,2-dichloroethane, with 1.0 mmol naphthalene, 0.22 mL nitric acid (95%), and 0.10 g HBEA-25 at −15 °C. The effects of reaction temperature and the quantity of zeolites on 1-nitronaphthalene were also studied. The catalyst is readily recyclable, and we believe this to be a major step forward in the area of clean technology for aromatic nitration.Keywords:nitronaphthalene;selectivity;HBEA zeolite;catalytic nitration