Synthesis, Characterization and Investigation of Catalytic Activity of Nanospinels Cu1-XCoxFe2O4 in tert-Butylation of p-Cresol

Use of antioxidants in composite propellants formulation to import stability to the propellants during storage time is unavoidable. In this paper, the synthesis of 2-t-butyl p-cresol intermediate for the preparation of A.O.2246 using of nanospinels as catalyst is investigated. Tertiary butylation of p-cresol using of alkylating agents as methyl-tert-butyl ether and t-butyl alcohol is reconsidered using Cu1-xCoxFe2O4 (x = 0 to 1) nanospinels as a function of temperature, mole ratio, type and catalyst composition, time and solvent. These catalysts were synthesized using hydrothermal method. Tertiary butylation of p-cresol gives two products, namely, 2-tert-butyl p-cresol and 2,6-di-tert-butyl p-cresol. A good correlation was found between the activity, in terms of p-cresol conversion and various reaction product selectivity and the acid–base properties of catalysts. Cu0.5Co0.5Fe2O4, irrespective of the alkylating agents is most active catalyst. The only product of this reaction is 2-t-butyl p-cresol with selectivity of 100% and p-cresol conversion is 70%. These results illustrate the importance of a 1:1 combination of Cu and Co and the necessity for optimum concentrations of acid–base centers for this reaction. The characterization of these catalysts was investigated via X-ray diffraction (XRD).