Alkylation of phenol with tert-butyl alcohol catalyzed by ionic liquid-supported MCM-41 with different pore sizes

Mesoporous silica materials (MCM-41) with different pore sizes were synthesized by using 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene as a micelle expander and used as support material for preparation of containing sulfonic acid ionic liquid catalysts. The -SO3H functionalized Bronsted acid ionic liquids ([Ps-mim]HSO4) were loaded on MCM-41 with different pore sizes by impregnation method and the three composites [1-IL@MCM-41 (2.4, 3.6 and 4.8 nm)] were obtained. Their physicochemical properties were characterized by FT-IR, TG-DSC, N-2 adsorption technique, XRD and TEM. Also, the catalytic performances of 1-IL@ MCM-41 (2.4, 3.6 and 4.8 nm) were evaluated by the alkylation of phenol with text-butyl alcohol. The effects of reaction temperature, pore size of MCM-4 land the recyclability of catalysts on the conversion of phenol and selectivity to products were investigated. The 1-IL@MCM-41 (4.8 nm) exhibited the best phenol conversion up to 78.7% at temperature as low as 80 degrees C among the three composite catalysts, and the recyclability of 1-IL@MCM-41 (3.6 nm) is much better than the catalysts of 1-IL @MCM-41 (2.4 nm) and 1-IL@MCM-41 (4.8 nm).