Further Exploitation of Advanced Shell Technology

FEAST [Further exploitation of advanced Shell technology] Not a single process but a range of processes for converting cyclic di-olefins into alpha-omega dienes. The catalyst is based on rhenium on alumina. Operated in France since 1986. 

Further Exploitation of Advanced Shell Technology (FEAST), 26 941 Fusain, 6 704... 

FEAST (further exploitation of advanced shell technology), another Shell process142-144 commercialized in 1986, utilizes a highly active promoted rhenium-on-alumina catalyst (100°C, 2 atm) to synthesize 1,5-hexadiene from 1,5-cyclo-octadiene [Eq. (12.30)] and 1,9-decadiene from cyclooctene [Eq. (12.31)] ... 

Terminal dienes (also called a,w-diolefins) are useful in ADMET polymerization. The scheme below shows a number of processes that were patented by Shell Oil Company and were designed to produce terminal dienes. The name FEAST (Further Exploitation of Advanced Shell Technology) was coined to describe these reactions, most of which involve metathesis. Assume that the catalyst is a generic carbene complex, L M=CRR. Propose mechanisms for the transformations indicated by an asterisk near the reaction arrow. 

There are many potential outlets for these kinds of product, viz. cross-linking agents, speciality (co)monomers, and starting materials in the preparation of various a,cu-disubstituted intermediates for the production of aroma chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural chemicals. The first commercial plant, operating under the name FEAST (Further Exploitation of Advanced Shell Technology), was opened in 1987 in Berre I Etang (France) and has a capacity of 3000 tons per year (Short 1987). 

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