Cyclodimerization of Stilbenes and Styrenes Catalyzed by Heteropolyacid Supported on Silica

The cyclodimerization of stilbenes and styrenes with acid reagents have been thoroughly descripte in the literature. We have observed that the formation of indanes and/ or tetralines from estilbenes for treatment with as acid differents as the H₂SO₄ (c) and PPE relies on the substitution of the aromatic rings [1]. In this work it are introduced the study of the behavior of several stilbenes and styrenes in presence of Molybdophosphoric acid (AMP) and tungstophosphoric (ATP) supported on sílice [2].

The catalyst was prepared on base the AMP and APT acids supported on sílice employing the tech- nique of impregnation in equilibrium during 72 hs. The support employing was SiO2 Grace. The cata- lysts was dried to 25 °C, calcined to 200 °C and washed with chloroform, where it was carried out the cyclodimerization reaction. The contents of AMP and ATP, of the washed catalysts, was from 0.39 and 0.37 g/ g of respectively catalyst. To the chloroform solution of stilbenes and styrenes was added the catalyst (0.l meq./ meq. of reagent). The mixture was heated at refluxe. The reaction was followed for t.l.c. The catalyst was filtered and the solvent evaporated under reduced pressure. The products of re- action were purified and identified by physics and spectroscopy dates. The catalysts were washed with chloroform and reused with the same effectiveness until four time.

The results obtained in the reactions of cyclodimerization of stilbenes and styrenes have resulted extremely satisfactory. The two catalysts showed a similar behavior in these reactions. The conditions of reaction were soft and the yield very good (80-100%). The formation of lateral products is not ob- served, which facilitates the purification.