Zeolite Y nanoparticle assemblies with high activity in the direct hydration of terminal alkynes

Abstract

A strong acidic zeolite Y nanoparticle assembly (HNANO-Y) with a micro–meso–macroporous structure was synthesized and used as a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the hydration of alkynes to prepare ketone compounds, as compared to acidic mesoporous zeolite ZSM-5 and Beta catalysts. This feature should be assigned to the fact that the micro–meso–macroporous structure in the HNANO-Y benefits mass transfer and the strongly acidic sites on HNANO-Y facilitate alkyne hydration activity. The catalyst can be reused six times without loss of activity.