Synthesis of tert-amylbenzene for side-chain alkylation of cumene catalyzed by a solid superbase

Abstract

The side-chain alkylation of cumene and ethylene over a solid superbase catalyst K/KOH/γ-Al2O3 is investigated. The effects of the reaction temperature, pressure, and time on the conversion of cumene and selectivity of tert-amylbenzene (TAB) are discussed. The experimental results show that the conversion of cumene to tert-pentylbenzene increases with the increase in reaction temperature and ethylene pressure. The catalytic reaction has certain operational flexibility in terms of the reaction temperature, pressure, and time. In addition, the catalytic reaction can achieve directional conversion. The optimum operating conditions are obtained using a single factor test. The conversion of cumene is 99.8% and the selectivity toward TAB is 97.9% under catalyst concentration of 4 wt%, reaction temperature of 55°C, reaction pressure of 0.45 MPa, and reaction time of 30 min. The deactivation of catalyst is mainly caused by oxygen and water in the raw material.

Keywords

• cumene
• tert-amylbenzene
• ethylene
• side-chain alkylation
• solid superbase