Ethyl Corporation

Albermarle Corporation

R Scott Smith

Gerald Z Smith, Jr

A catalyst composition is disclosed that is useful for the dimerization of a normal 1-alkene containing 3-8 carbons. A supported alkali metal is employed as a catalyst and is combined with about 10-100 mol %, based on the amount of alkali metal catalyst, of an oxide of sodium, potassium, rubidium, and/or cesium as a co-catalyst. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the alkali metal is potassium or a potassium or a potassium alloy, and the co-catalyst is sodium oxide.

Catalyst for alkene dimerization

A normal 1-alkene containing 3-8 carbons is dimerized in the presence of a supported alkali metal as a catalyst and about 10-100 mol %, based on the amount of alkali metal catalyst, of an oxide of sodium, potassium, rubidium, and/or cesium as a co-catalyst. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the alkene is propene, the alkali metal is potassium or a potassium alloy, and the co-catalyst is sodium oxide.

Alkene dimerization

A normal 1-alkene containing 3-8 carbons is coupled with itself, another such alkene, or ethene in the presence of a supported alkali metal as a catalyst and about 10-100 mol %, based on the amount of alkali metal catalyst, of an alkali metal hydroxide as a co-catalyst; the support being a silica having a surface area not greater than 5 m.sup.2 /g. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the alkene is propene or a mixture of propene and ethene, the alkali metal is potassium or a potassium alloy, and the co-catalyst is potassium hydroxide.

Alkene coupling

An alkene selected from ethene, propene, and mixtures thereof is coupled with an aromatic hydrocarbon having an active hydrogen on a saturated alpha-carbon in the presence of a supported potassium or potassium alloy as a catalyst and cesium oxide as a co-catalyst. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the active hydrogen-containing aromatic hydrocarbon is an alkylbenzene, such as toluene.

Coupling process

A catalyst composition having enhanced effectiveness in coupling an alkene with an aromatic hydrocarbon having an active hydrogen on a saturated .alpha.-carbon is obtained by dispersing an alkali metal onto a supported oxide of sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, barium, strontium, calcium, or magnesium in the absence of a diluent.

Catalyst composition for coupling process

An alkene selected from ethene, propene, and mixtures thereof is coupled with an aromatic hydrocarbon having an active hydrogen on a saturated alpha-carbon in the presence of a supported potassium or potassium alloy as a catalyst and an alkaline earth metal oxide as a co-catalyst. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the active hydrogen-containing aromatic hydrocarbon is an alkylbenzene, such as toluene.

An alkene selected from ethene, propene, and mixtures thereof is coupled with an aromatic hydrocarbon having an active hydrogen on a saturated alpha-carbon in the presence of a supported potassium or potassium alloy as a catalyst and sodium oxide, potassium oxide, rubidium oxide, or a mixture of any two or all three thereof as a co-catalyst. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the active hydrogen-containing aromatic hydrocarbon is an alkylbenzene, such as toluene; and the co-catalyst is sodium oxide.

An alkene selected from ethene, propene, and mixtures thereof is coupled with an aromatic hydrocarbon having an active hydrogen on a saturated alpha-carbon in the presence of a supported potassium or potassium alloy as a catalyst and sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or a mixture thereof as a co-catalyst. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the active hydrogen-containing aromatic hydrocarbon is an alkylbenzene, such as toluene; and the co-catalyst is a hydroxide or hydroxide mixture formed in situ by adding water to the potassium or potassium alloy.

Vinylidene olefins are selectively removed from a mixture of olefins containing vinylidene olefins by reacting the mixture with either hydrogen sulfide or a hydrocarbyl mercaptan and then distilling the resultant mixture to obtain a substantially vinylidene olefin-free product.

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Baton Rouge, LA, United States of America

R Scott Smith