A new, Fe based, heterogeneous Lewis acid: selective isomerization of alfa-pinene oxide

Heterogeneous Fe supported catalysts prepared by grafting Fe(III) acetylacetonate onto pure silica and a series of modified silicas with variable of zirconia amount were prepared. Their characterization showed the presence of Fe3+ species, with completre dispersion of the iron phase and without any Fe3O4 presence. These materials exhibit not only excellent activity in the liquid phase isomerization of alfa-pinene oxide but also good selectivity towards campholenic aldehyde, thus showing their Lewis acid nature.