State-of-the-art polymeric acid catalysts are widely used in the chemical industry.  Current polymeric heterogeneous catalysts are amorphous, and do not have well defined, regular pores with controlled diameters and tight dimensions (as do high temperature zeolite acid catalysts, for example).  However, it is now known that immobilized acid groups on the inside of pores 10 to 15 nanometers in diameter (as the active sites) result in the catalysis of reactions at lower temperatures, with higher yields, and with much fewer side reactions.  This project will develop a process for making polymeric acid catalysts by a self-assembly route.  The resulting nanostructured catalysts are expected to outperform conventional polymeric catalysts, due to their ability to carry out shape-selective reactions.  These catalysts will be targeted for reactions in industrial esterification processes.   Phase I will produce and characterize the nanostructured catalyst materials, and test them for use in the esterification-reaction-forming dioctyl phthalate, the most abundant plasticizer on the market.

Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee:  Hetereogeneous shape-selective acid catalysts should be used in the industrial production of chemicals by esterification.  Products include plasticizers, solvents, perfumery, flavor chemicals, petrochemicals, argrochemicals, and other fine chemicals.  Other industrial chemical reactions and transformations using acid catalysis include alkylation, transalkylation, isomerization, oligomerization, acylation, and nitration.