Studies on Copper-based Catalysts for the Synthesis of Methyl Vinyl Ketone by the Methylenation of Acetone

The copper-based catalysts for the synthesis of mathyl vinyl ketone (MVK) have been investigated using the techniques of continuously flowing microreaction kinetics and XPS method. It is found that the support of the catalyst plays an important role.The best yield of MVK is obtained from copper-based catalyst supported on SiO₂, whose activity and selectivity are larger than those of the catalysts supported on MgO or Al₂O₃.The surface propertics of the catalysts were analyst by XPS, whith the result appearing that the CU¹⁺ may be an active valence state for the catalysis.