Skeletal isomerization of n-heptane and hydroisomerization of benzene over bifunctional heteropoly compounds

Hydroisomerization of benzene and skeletal isomerization of n-heptane have been studied using various 2 wt.% Pt-promoted solid acids such as Pt–Cs2.5H0.5PW12O40 (Pt–Cs2.5), SiO2 supported Pt–Cs2.5H0.5PW12O40 (Pt–Cs2.5/SiO2), Pt–SO42−/ZrO2, Pt–WO3/ZrO2, and Pt–H-β zeolite. The catalytic activity for the formation of methylcyclopentane in the hydroisomerization of benzene was in order of Pt–Cs2.5/SiO2>Pt–Cs2.5>Pt–WO3/ZrO2>Pt–SO42−/ZrO2. The highest activity of Pt–Cs2.5/SiO2 among these bifunctional catalysts would be due to high ability for hydrogenation of benzene and high activity for skeletal isomerization of cyclohexane. In the skeletal isomerization of n-heptane, it was found that Pt–Cs2.5/SiO2 was more selective than Pt–H-β zeolite, which is known to be the most efficient catalyst for this reaction, though it was less active than Pt–H-β zeolite.