Alkylation of aromatic compounds in the presence of an alumino-silicate catalyst

Abstract

Abstract A process for producing alkylated organic compounds comprises effecting reaction of an alkylating agent and an aromatic hydrocarbon, or aromatic hydrocarbon containing a nonpolar substituent, at a temperature not in excess of 600 DEG F., in the presence of a superactive catalyst comprising a base-exchanged crystalline aluminosilicate having a residual sodium content not greater than 6% by weight of the dry aluminosilicate and a pore size of 6 to 15 Angstrom units; said catalyst having an activity constant above 10. Cations present in the catalysts used are rare earth metals, hydrogen or mixtures thereof. Reaction preferably takes place at 100 DEG to 600 DEG F. and aromatic hydrocarbons used are benzenes, naphthalenes, phenanthrenes and anthracenes and alkylating agents used are C2-C20 olefines, alkyl halides or aliphatic alcohols containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms in the alkyl group and the molar ratio organic hydrocarbon: alkylating agent is preferably at least 3:1. The reaction is preferably carried out under sufficient pressure to maintain the organic hydrocarbon in the liquid phase and the organic hydrocarbon may be allowed to saturate the catalyst before the alkylating agent is added. The catalyst may be combined with conventional porous adsorbents, carriers and supports.ALSO:Base-exchanged crystalline aluminosilicates having a residual sodium content not greater than 6% by weight of the dry aluminosilicate, a pore size of 6 to 15 Angstrom units and a catalyst activity constant above 10 are prepared by conventional treatments involving partial replacement of sodium ions by rare earth metal ions and hydrogen ions. Zeolite X is the preferred aluminosilicate.

Inventors

• 👤 John James Wise

Bibliographic Details