Abstract: N-propyl aniline was efficiently synthesized in vapor phase from aniline and 1-propanol at atmospheric pressure over the Cu/SiO2 catalyst that was prepared by the incipient wetness method and temperature-programmed calcinations. The catalyst exhibited very high activity and selectivity. At the reaction temperature of 260 ℃, 1-propanol conversion reached 100%, and the selectivity for N-propyl aniline exceeded 92%. The results of X-ray diffraction showed that the Cu/SiO2 catalyst with high catalytic activity and selectivity had good crystallinity of copper.

Key words: copper, silica, supported catalyst, aniline, 1-propanol, N-propyl aniline