Cycloalkanes reaction with ethylene

Cycloalkanes possessing a tertiary carbon atom may be alkylated under conditions similar to those applied for the alkylation of isoalkanes. Methylcyclopentane and methylcyclohexane were studied most.5 Methylcyclopentane reacts with propylene and isobutylene in the presence of HF (23-25°C), and methylcyclohexane can also be reacted with isobutylene and 2-butene under the same conditions.20 Methylcyclopentane is alkylated with propylene in the presence of HBr—AlBr3 (—42°C) to produce l-ethyl-2-methylcyclohexane.21 C12H22 bicyclic compounds are also formed under alkylation conditions.21 22 Cyclohexane, in contrast, requires elevated temperature, and only strong catalysts are effective. HC1—AICI3 catalyzes the cyclohexane-ethylene reaction at 50-60°C to yield mainly dimethyl- and tetra-methylcyclohexanes (rather than mono- and diethylcyclohexanes). The relatively weak boron trifluoride, in turn, is not active in the alkylation of cyclohexane.23... 

Products formed by the reaction of cyclopentane with 1, 2 or 3 molecular proportions of ethylene were the chief products of the reaction of approximately equimolar amounts of the cycloalkane and the olefin under the standard conditions (Expt. 8). 

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