Symposium on Acid-Base Catalysis

Shell Chemical Company, Houston, TX 77251 iohn. kn i lion (alshell. com 

Traditionally, the production of LABs has been practiced commercially using either Lewis acid catalysts, or liquid hydrofluoric acid (HF).2 The HF catalysis typically gives 2-phenylalkane selectivities of only 17-18%. More recently, UOP/CEPSA have announced the DetalR process for LAB production that is reported to employ a solid acid catalyst.3 Within the same time frame, a number of papers and patents have been published describing LAB synthesis using a range of solid acid (sterically constrained) catalysts, including acidic clays,4 sulfated oxides,5 plus a variety of acidic zeolite structures.6 9 Many of these solid acids provide improved 2-phenylalkane selectivities. 

The fluoride-treated acidic mordenite catalysts have, in fact, the triple advantages of  

High alkylation activity that allows quantitative alkene conversions at adequate 

Exceptionally high regioselectivity for the more desirable 2-phenyl LAB. 

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K. Tanabe. H. Hattori, T. Yamaguchi and T. Tanaka. Acid Base Catalysis, Proceedings of the International Symposium on Acid-Base Catalysis, Kodansha Ltd.. Tokyo (1989) 72. 

Volume 90 Acid-Base Catalysis II. Proceedings of the International Symposium on Acid-Base Catalysis II, Sapporo, Japan, December 2-4,1993 edited by H. Hatton, M. Misono andY. Ono Volume 91 Preparation of CatalystsVI. Scientific Bases forthe Preparation of... 

J.A. Moreno and G. Poncelet, in International Symposium on Acid-Base Catalysis IV , Matsuyama (Ed.), Book of Abstracts, 2001, P2. 

Volume 90 Acid-Base Catalysis II. Proceedings of the International Symposium on... 

The three themes of the symposium selective hydrogenation, selective oxidation and acid-base catalysis were introduced by four plenary lectures and two invited communications. A panel concerned with the future of zeolites and other shape-selective materials for fine chemical synthesis was conducted by specialists in the field D. Barthomeuf (University of Paris 6), E. Derouane (University of Namur), L. Forni (University of Milan), M. Gubelmann (Rhone-Poulenc, St Fons), W. Hoelderich (BASF, Ludwigshafen) and G. Perot (University of Poitiers). An exhibition of equipment was held during the symposium on October 3 and 4. Over 20 firms exhibited equipment, chemicals and catalysts which were of interest to researchers involved with the synthesis of functional compounds by heterogeneous catalysis. 

Catalysis by Acids and Bases. Proceedings of an International Symposium, Villeurbanne (Lyon), September 25-27, 1984 edited by B. Imelik, C. Naccache, G. Coudurier,Y. Ben Taarit and J.C.Vedrine Adsorption and Catalysis on Oxide Surfaces. Proceedings of a Symposium,... 

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