Synthesis of di-tert-butylethylene using olefin disproportionation

Claim 2

The process of claim 2 wherein the olefin disproportionation catalyst is modified by treatment with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide.

Claim 3

The process of claim 2 wherein the olefin disproportionation catalyst is tungsten oxide on silica and the double bond isomerization catalyst is magnesium oxide.

Claim 4

The process of claim 3 wherein the olefin disproportionation catalyst is tungsten oxide on silica treated with KOH and the double bond isomerization catalyst is magnesium oxide.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein the neohexene is provided by contacting diisobutylene and ethylene with an olefin disproportionation catalyst and separating the neohexene from the effluent of the reaction of diisobutylene and ethylene.

Claim 6

The process of claim 6 wherein the diisobutylene is provided by dimerizing isobutene in the presence of a dimerization catalyst.

Claim 7

A process of preparing di-tert-butylethylene which comprises the steps of: a. dimerizing isobutene in the presence of a dimerization catalyst to provide diIsobutylene; b. contacting the diisobutylene of steps (a) and ethylene with an olefin disproportionation catalyst to provide neohexene and isobutene; c. separating neohexene from isobutene in the effluent from step (b) and returning the separated isobutene to step (a); d. contacting the neohexene of step (b) with a combined catalyst comprising an effective amount of a disproportionation catalyst as a first component and an effective amount of a double bond isomerization catalyst having the ability to isomerize terminal olefins to internal olefins as a second component to provide di-tert-butylethylene and ethylene; and, e. separating ethylene from the effluent of step (d) and returning the separated ethylene for use in step (b).

Claim 8

The process of claim 8 wherein step (d) produces isobutene and dimethylbutenes, isobutene and dimethylbutenes are separated from the effluent of step (d), the isobutene being returned to step (a) and the dimethylbutenes being returned to step (b).

Claim 9

The process of producing di-tert-butylethylene from diisobutylene and ethylene which comprises the steps of: a. contacting diisobutylene and ethylene with an olefin disproportionation catalyst to provide neohexene and isobutene; b. contacting the neohexene of step (b) with a combined catalyst comprising an effective amount of a disproportionation catalyst as a first component and an effective amount of a double bond isomerization catalyst having the ability to isomerize terminal olefins to internal olefins as a second component to provide di-tert-butylethylene and ethylene; and, c. returning the ethylene of step (b) to step (a).