Ethyl Corporation

Albemarle Corporation

David C Eisenberg

Gene C Robinson

Edward G Samsel

Milham S Howie

Milind M Pradhan

Trimethylaluminum is made by an alkyl exchange process by first reacting a trialkylaluminum which has at least two carbon atoms in its alkyl groups with a methyl halide, optionally in the presence of an alkyl exchange catalyst, and then fractionally distilling trimethylaluminum from the product mixture in the presence of trialkylaluminum having at least two carbon atoms in its alkyl groups so as to convert the dimethylaluminum halide by-product of the alkyl exchange reaction into trimethylaluminum.

Process for preparing trimethylaluminum

An improved process for preparing an alkyl chain growth product by the chain growth reaction of .alpha.-olefin in an aluminum alkyl uses a catalyst system which comprises an actinide metallocene.

Actinide catalyzed chain growth process

This invention relates to a process for preparing tetrahydrocarbylsilane in high yield, comprising: a) forming a reaction mass from molten metal and trihydrocarbylaluminum, in an hydrocarbon solvent under an inert gas atmosphere; b) maintaining the reaction mass at a temperature in the range of from about 100.degree. to about 130.degree. C. for a period of time sufficient to form sodium tetrahydrocarbylaluminate; c) contacting the sodium tetrahydrocarbylaluminate with organotrihalosilane; and d) heating the contacted tetrahydrocarbylaluminate and organotrihalosilane to a temperature and for a period of time sufficient to form the tetrahydrocarbylsilane, wherein the tetrahydrocarbylaluminate and tetrahydrocarbylsilane are formed at a pressure of less than about 3000 KPa and wherein the hydrocarbyl group of the tetrahydrocarbyl silane is one or a mixture of hydrocarbyl groups having less than about 8 carbon atoms each.

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Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America

David C Eisenberg