Exxonmobil Chemical Patents Inc.

Exxonmobil Engineering & Technology Company

Ali A Kheir

Neeraj Sangar

Michael Salciccioli

Lorenzo C DeCaul

Jihad Mohammed Dakka

Aaron B Pavlish

James Richardson Lattner

Kun Wang

Tan-Jen Chen

Helge Jaensch

Etienne Mazoyer

Gregory J De Martin

Wenyih Frank Lai

Gary David Mohr

Chuansheng Bai

Paul Podsiadlo

Kathleen M Keville

Steven Webster Levine

Michele L Paccagnini

Emiel De Smit

Dominick A Zurlo, Iv

Jocelyn A Gilcrest

Eric D Metzger

Mary T Van Nostrand

James J Tanke

Novel MEL framework type zeolites can be made to have small crystallite sizes and desirable silica/SiOmolar ratios. Catalyst compositions comprising such MEL framework type zeolites can be particularly advantageous in isomerization C8 aromatic mixtures. An isomerization process for converting C8 aromatic hydrocarbons can advantageously utilize a catalyst composition comprising a MEL framework type zeolite.

Zeolite, process for making same, and use thereof in converting aromatic hydrocarbons

Disclosed herein are processes for producing neopentane. The processes generally relate to demethylating isooctane to produce neopentane. The isooctane may be provided by the alkylation of isobutane with butylenes.

Production of neopentane

Disclosed herein are processes for producing neopentane. The processes generally relate to demethylating neohexane and/or neoheptane to produce neopentane. The neohexane and/or neoheptane may be provided by the isomerization of C-Cparaffins.

Processes for selectively alkylating and/or dealkylating one ring of cyclohexylbenzyl and/or biphenyl compounds are provided. Such selective alkylation and/or dealkylation takes place through a transalkylation reaction between the cyclohexylbenzyl compound and a substituted or unsubstituted benzene, which replaces the phenyl moiety of the cyclohexylbenzyl compound. The transalkylated cyclohexylbenzyl may be dehydrogenated to give a corresponding biphenyl compound. The same reaction steps can be utilized with respect to biphenyl compounds by first partially hydrogenating one phenyl ring of the biphenyl compound, thereby obtaining a corresponding cyclohexylbenzyl compound, which may undergo the transalkylation and, optionally, subsequent dehydrogenation. Combinations of any two or more of partial hydrogenation, transalkylation, and dehydrogenation enable targeted substitution (or de-substitution) of only one ring of cyclohexylbenzyl and/or biphenyl compounds, thereby providing superior control in designing the synthesis of these compounds.

Transalkylated cyclohexylbenzyl and biphenyl compounds

In a process for producing dialkylbiphenyl compounds, a feed comprising substituted cyclohexylbenzene isomers having the formula (I): wherein each of Rand Ris an alkyl group and wherein the feed comprises m % by weight of isomers in which Ris in the 2-position, based on the total weight of substituted cyclohexylbenzene isomers in the feed; is transalkylated with a compound of formula (II): to produce a transalkylation product comprising substituted cyclohexylbenzene isomers having the formula (I) and including n % by weight of isomers in which Ris in the 2-position, based on the total weight of substituted cyclohexylbenzene isomers in the transalkylation product, wherein n&#x3c;m. At least part of the transalkylation product is then dehydrogenated under conditions effective to convert at least part of the substituted cyclohexylbenzene isomers in the transalkylation product to dialkylbiphenyl compounds.

Process for preparing dialkylbiphenyl isomer mixtures

In a process for dehydrogenating cyclohexylbenzene and/or alkyl-substituted cyclohexylbenzene compounds, a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising at least one Group 10 metal compound on a support is heated in the presence of hydrogen from a first temperature from 0&#xb0; C. to 200&#xb0; C. to a second, higher temperature from 60&#xb0; C. to 500&#xb0; C. at a ramp rate no more than 100&#xb0; C./hour. The dehydrogenation catalyst is contacted with hydrogen at the second temperature for a time from 3 to 300 hours to produce an activated dehydrogenation catalyst. A feed comprising cyclohexylbenzene and/or an alkyl-substituted cyclohexylbenzene compound is then contacted with hydrogen in the presence of the activated dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising biphenyl and/or an alkyl-substituted biphenyl compound.

Activation of dehydrogenation catalysts

In a process for producing biphenyl compounds, a Caromatic hydrocarbon may be hydroalkylated to give Ccycloalkylaromatic compounds and byproduct Csaturated cyclic hydrocarbons. The Ccycloalkylaromatic compounds are dehydrogenated to provide the biphenyl compounds. The Csaturated cyclic hydrocarbons may also be dehydrogenated back to the corresponding Caromatic hydrocarbon, which may be recycled to provide additional feed. Although both the intermediate Ccycloalkylaromatic compounds and the byproduct Csaturated cyclic hydrocarbons should be dehydrogenated, at least part of the dehydrogenation of the Csaturated cyclic hydrocarbons should take place in the absence of Cor greater hydrocarbons. Thus, dehydrogenation of the byproduct Csaturated cyclic hydrocarbons should take place at least in part separately from dehydrogenation of the Ccycloalkylaromatic compounds.

Production of biphenyl compounds

In a process for producing a methyl-substituted biphenyl compound, at least one methyl-substituted cyclohexylbenzene compound of the formula: wherein each of m and n is independently an integer from 1 to 3, is contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound. The dehydrogenation catalyst comprises an element or compound thereof from Group 10 of the Periodic Table of Elements deposited on a refractory support, such as alumina.

Methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds, their production and their use in the manufacture of plasticizers

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Sugar Land, TX, United States of America

Ali A Kheir