Beckmann rearrangement of cyclopentanone oxime catalysed by decationated zeolite

Abstract
The Beckmann rearrangement of cyclopentanone oxime catalysed by zeolites has been studied in a flow system. It has been shown that a decationated Y zeolite containing palladium gives the best conversions into 2-piperidone particularly in the presence of hydrogen. Confirmation has been obtained that the Brønsted acidity of the catalyst is responsible for the catalytic activity for the conversion of oxime into lactam and that alkali metal cation sites are responsible for the formation of pent-4-enenitrile.