Mechanism of Aniline Methylation on Zeolite Catalysts Investigated by In Situ 13C NMR Spectroscopy

The alkylation reaction of aniline with methanol on zeolites HY and CsOH/CsNaY was studied by in situ 13C NMR spectroscopy under flow and batch conditions. Attention was focused on the identification of intermediates and on the determination of the formation mechanisms of N-methylaniline, N,N-dimethylaniline, and toluidines. To refine the main steps of the reaction, the transformations of the following individual compounds and intermediates, which were detected in the course of alkylation, were studied: dimethyl ether, surface methoxy groups, methylanilinium ions, formaldehyde, and N-methyleneaniline. It was found that N-methylaniline and N,N-dimethylaniline were formed as a result of aniline methylation by methanol dehydration products (methoxy groups or dimethyl ether) on acidic zeolites or as a result of alkylation by formaldehyde or methoxy groups on basic zeolites. Toluidines were formed by the isomerization ofN-methylanilinium ions, which were produced only on acidic zeolites, rather than by the direct alkylation of aniline.