Abstract

Tatang Shabur Julianto^1,3, Jumina¹, Hardjono Sastrohamidjojo¹ and Mustofa²

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/330652

Trans-isolimonene is one of the important compound in drugs development. This compound can be made by isomerization of inexpensive 3-carene via 2-carene using Na/o-chlorotoluene catalyst in xylene. The existence of xylene as a solvent requires a further separation process that can reduce the efficiency when applied in the bulk industry. The isomerization of 3-carene to 2-carene has been studied in solvent free reaction compared by isomerization without xylene solvent. The result showed that the isomerization can also occur in solvent-free condition. Solvent-free isomerization gave 27.72% of conversion and 83.27% of selectivity while isomerization with solvent gave 23.59% of conversion and 86.87% of selectivity.

3-carene; 2-carene; Na/o-chlorotoluene; Xylene; Trans-isolimonene; Isomerization

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