Carter, Michael T., Jennifer F. Clark, Jennifer L. Jeffers, Dana L. Hagers. IONIC LIQUID CATALYSTS FOR BENZENE ALKYLATION
Eltron Research, Inc., 4600 Nautilus Court South, Boulder, CO 80301 (mtcarter@eltronresearch.com)
Friedel-Crafts alkylation of benzene by olefins was performed in an ambient temperature chloroaluminate ionic liquid. Three important alkylations were examined: preparation of ethylbenzene, cumene and long-chain linear alkylbenzenes. The ionic liquid medium could be reused essentially indefinitely without inactivation or loss of catalyst. This suggests that (1) the catalyst can be rendered as a fixed cost in the alkylation process and (2) significant reduction in the quantity of catalyst needed to generate a given amount of product can be achieved with corresponding reductions in the environmental impact of eventual disposal of the catalyst. This method could therefore provide both environmental benefits and economic advantage to alkylbenzene producers.