Production and utilization of tri-(beta-branched alkyl) aluminum

Abstract

Processes are described for the production and use of tri-(beta-branched alkyl)aluminum compounds. In a preferred embodiment, a process of this invention involves dimerizing one or more vinylolefin monomers with an alkyl aluminum catalyst to form a first product mixture comprising at least vinylolefin monomer, trialkylaluminum in which each alkyl group has the same number of carbon atoms and skeletal structure as said vinylolefin monomer, and vinylidene olefin. The vinylolefin monomer is then removed while concurrently the trialkylaluminum and vinylidene olefin are converted to tri-(beta-branched alkyl)aluminum by reactive distillation. Reactive distillation effects a shift of the chemical equilibrium away from the trialkylaluminum compound and toward the production of tri-(beta-branched alkyl)aluminum. compound. The tri-(beta-branched alkyl)aluminum compound may then be purified by a subsequent distillation, or similarly purified and recycled back into the process as the alkyl aluminum catalyst used in forming the first product mixture. The described processes constitute highly efficient economical processes which may be carried out in a single reactor, if desired, for the high-yield production and use of such compounds.