Dimethyl ether (DME, CH3OCH3) is the simplest dialkyl ether, and its synthesis in catalytic chemistry is the formation of that C–O–C linkage from C1 oxygenates. The established industrial route is acid-catalyzed dehydration of methanol (2 CH3OH ⇌ CH3OCH3 + H2O) over solid acids such as γ-alumina or zeolites. Direct synthesis couples methanol formation and dehydration in one reactor, either from syngas or from CO2 hydrogenation on a bifunctional metal/acid catalyst [1]. Cu/ZnO catalysts derived from bimetallic metal–organic frameworks illustrate the methanol-forming function that feeds the acid-catalyzed condensation to DME [2]. Kinetic, adsorption, and heat- and mass-transfer effects jointly determine the observed rate and selectivity of the bifunctional sequence [3]]. The conceptual core is construction of DME as a discrete C2 ether, not subsequent conversion of DME to olefins or hydrocarbons. The process is a C–O coupling of C1 units, distinct from Fischer–Tropsch C–C polymerization of CO and from carbonylation of methanol to acetic acid.
- dimethyl ether
- methanol dehydration
- CO2 hydrogenation
- solid-acid catalysis
Synthesis and Catalytic Reactions • Organic Chemistry • Chemistry • Physical Sciences
References
- Qingtao Sheng; Run-Ping Ye; Weibo Gong; Xiufeng Shi; Bang Xu; Morris Argyle; Hertanto Adidharma; Maohong Fan; Mechanism and catalytic performance for direct dimethyl ether synthesis by CO2 hydrogenation over CuZnZr/ferrierite hybrid catalyst. J. Environ. Sci. 2020, 92, 106-117, 10.1016/j.jes.2020.02.015.
- Fuping Li; Min Ao; Gia Hung Pham; Jaka Sunarso; Yanping Chen; Jian Liu; Kai Wang; Shaomin Liu; Cu/ZnO Catalysts Derived from Bimetallic Metal–Organic Framework for Dimethyl Ether Synthesis from Syngas with Enhanced Selectivity and Stability. Small 2020, 16, 1906276, 10.1002/smll.201906276.
- Simone Guffanti; Carlo Giorgio Visconti; Gianpiero Groppi; Model Analysis of the Role of Kinetics, Adsorption Capacity, and Heat and Mass Transfer Effects in Sorption Enhanced Dimethyl Ether Synthesis. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2021, 60, 6767-6783, 10.1021/acs.iecr.1c00521.