High Conversion of Styrene, Ethylene, and Hydrogen to Linear Monoalkylbenzenes.

David Lamparelli,Leone Oliva,Vincenzo Palma,Antonio Ricca

doi:10.3390/molecules23061260

Abstract

1-Alkylbenzenes as a precursor of surfactants, can be produced from ethylene, styrene, and hydrogen. These intermediates, lacking tertiary carbons, are environmentally more benign than commercial ones that bear the aromatic ring linked to an internal carbon of the aliphatic chain. The one-pot synthesis of highly linear 1-alkylbenzenes (LABs) through the homogeneous catalysis of olefin poly-insertion from cheap and largely available reagents can be carried out with a high turnover and selectivity. A purposely designed reactor that allows for the fine control of the three components feed, along with temperature, plays a key role in this achievement. A turnover of 194 g of LABs per mmol of catalyst per hour can be obtained with the simultaneous removal of polyethylene as a by-product.

Highlights

Anionic surfactants, with a worldwide production of some millions of tonnes are produced through the sulfonation of alkylbenzenes, are of relevant commercial interest
AlkylBenzenes (LAB) are preferred to the branched ones, as they are eco-friendly products due to their faster and more complete biodegradation. These intermediates are industrially produced through the Friedel−Crafts alkylation of benzene with normal C10–C16 chloroalkanes or olefins [1,2,3,4], affording linear 1-alkylbenzenes (LABs) with the aromatic ring, and occupying different positions in the aliphatic chain [2,3]
Dichloride (EBTHIZrCl2 ) activated by Modified MethylAluminOxane (MMAO), a formulation very close2. to the commercial catalysts used for polymerization processes

Summary

Introduction

With a worldwide production of some millions of tonnes are produced through the sulfonation of alkylbenzenes, are of relevant commercial interest. AlkylBenzenes (LAB) are preferred to the branched ones, as they are eco-friendly products due to their faster and more complete biodegradation. These intermediates are industrially produced through the Friedel−Crafts alkylation of benzene with normal C10–C16 chloroalkanes or olefins [1,2,3,4], affording LABs with the aromatic ring, and occupying different positions in the aliphatic chain [2,3]. In light of the knowledge of styrene-ethylene reactivity [7], a synthesis that takes together styrene, ethylene, and hydrogen has been reported, resulting in a mixture of linear

Methods

Results

Conclusion