Xylenes alkylation

The only aromatic components that appeared at reaction temperatures below 300 °C were toluene and p-xylene. In the case of the small-crystalline H-ZSM-5(M), however, some m- and o-xylene were present in the product mixture even at 245 °C (WHSV = 6 h- ). This can be explained by xylene isomerization at the outer zeolite surface. At conditions where the para-selectivity was high (more than 90% para), the amount of p-ethyl-toluene (PET) in the product were one order of magnitude greater than that of any other Cg-component, but when it was low, the ratio 1,2,4-trimethyl-benzene (124TMB) PET was found to be about 10 1. These experimental facts indicate that 124TMB is mainly formed by secondary xylene alkylation with methanol. Toluene, p-xylene, PET and perhaps ethyl-benzene are more likely to be the primary aromatic products formed in the MTG-reaction. To confirm this suggestion the molar product ratios EB/PX,... 

Operation with the hi toluene-methanol ratios required to limit methanol side reactions means that product yield based on alkylbenzene feed is low and the reaction is limited by methanol Attempts to overcome this limitation have been made by use of composite methanol synthesis-HZSM-5 catalysts, and this approach has been demonstrated for /7-xylene alkylation to yield 1,2,4-trimethyIbenzene. Yashima et al [62] claimed that the efficiency of methanol usage as an alkylating agent is greater when the methanol is produced in situ on the Zn/Cr OTude catalyst than when the methanol is cofed with the /7- Q7lene. 

The EB present in recovered mixed xylenes is largely converted to xylenes or benzene. The EB used to make styrene is predominately manufactured by the alkylation of benzene with ethylene. 

Alkylation. Ben2otrifluoride can also be alkylated, eg, chloromethyl methyl ether—chlorosulfonic acid forms 3-(trifluoromethyl)ben2yl chloride [705-29-3] (303,304), which can also be made from / -xylene by a chlorination—fluorination sequence (305). Exchange cyanation of this product in the presence of phase-transfer catalysts gives 3-(trifluoromethylphenyl)acetonitrile [2338-76-3] (304,305), a key intermediate to the herbicides flurtamone... 

Alkylated aromatics have excellent low temperature fluidity and low pour points. The viscosity indexes are lower than most mineral oils. These materials are less volatile than comparably viscous mineral oils, and more stable to high temperatures, hydrolysis, and nuclear radiation. Oxidation stabihty depends strongly on the stmcture of the alkyl groups (10). However it is difficult to incorporate inhibitors and the lubrication properties of specific stmctures maybe poor. The alkylated aromatics also are compatible with mineral oils and systems designed for mineral oils (see Benzene Toulene Xylenes and ethylbenzene). ... 

Catalysts used in the polymerization of C-5 diolefins and olefins, and monovinyl aromatic monomers, foUow closely with the systems used in the synthesis of aHphatic resins. Typical catalyst systems are AlCl, AIBr., AlCl —HCl—o-xylene complexes and sludges obtained from the Friedel-Crafts alkylation of benzene. Boron trifluoride and its complexes, as weU as TiCl and SnCl, have been found to result in lower yields and higher oligomer content in C-5 and aromatic modified C-5 polymerizations. 

PMMA is not affected by most inorganic solutions, mineral oils, animal oils, low concentrations of alcohols paraffins, olefins, amines, alkyl monohahdes and ahphatic hydrocarbons and higher esters, ie, >10 carbon atoms. However, PMMA is attacked by lower esters, eg, ethyl acetate, isopropyl acetate aromatic hydrocarbons, eg, benzene, toluene, xylene phenols, eg, cresol, carboHc acid aryl hahdes, eg, chlorobenzene, bromobenzene ahphatic acids, eg, butyric acid, acetic acid alkyl polyhaHdes, eg, ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride high concentrations of alcohols, eg, methanol, ethanol 2-propanol and high concentrations of alkahes and oxidizing agents. 

Cosurfactant requirements can be minimized usiag a surfactant having a short-branched hydrophobe or a branched-alkyl substituent on an aromatic group (232,234) and a long ethoxy group chain (234). Blends of surfactants optimized for seawater or reservoir brine salinity include linear alkyl xylene sulfonate—alcohol ether sulfate mixtures (235). 

Surfactants evaluated in surfactant-enhanced alkaline flooding include internal olefin sulfonates (259,261), linear alkyl xylene sulfonates (262), petroleum sulfonates (262), alcohol ethoxysulfates (258,261,263), and alcohol ethoxylates/anionic surfactants (257). Water-thickening polymers, either xanthan or polyacrylamide, can reduce injected fluid mobiHty in alkaline flooding (264) and surfactant-enhanced alkaline flooding (259,263). The combined use of alkah, surfactant, and water-thickening polymer has been termed the alkaH—surfactant—polymer (ASP) process. Cross-linked polymers have been used to increase volumetric sweep efficiency of surfactant—polymer—alkaline agent formulations (265). 

Naphthalene (qv) from coal tar continued to be the feedstock of choice ia both the United States and Germany until the late 1950s, when a shortage of naphthalene coupled with the availabihty of xylenes from a burgeoning petrochemical industry forced many companies to use o-xylene [95-47-6] (8). Air oxidation of 90% pure o-xylene to phthaUc anhydride was commercialized ia 1946 (9,10). An advantage of o-xylene is the theoretical yield to phthaUc anhydride of 1.395 kg/kg. With naphthalene, two of the ten carbon atoms are lost to carbon oxide formation and at most a 1.157-kg/kg yield is possible. Although both are suitable feedstocks, o-xylene is overwhelmingly favored. Coal-tar naphthalene is used ia some cases, eg, where it is readily available from coke operations ia steel mills (see Steel). Naphthalene can be produced by hydrodealkylation of substituted naphthalenes from refinery operations (8), but no refinery-produced napthalene is used as feedstock. Alkyl naphthalenes can be converted directiy to phthaUc anhydride, but at low yields (11,12). 

The selective alkylation of toluene with methanol to produce -xylene as a predominant isomer can be achieved over shape-selective catalysts (99—101). With a modified ZSM-5 zeoHte catalyst, more than 99% -xylene in xylene isomers can be produced at 550°C. This -xylene concentration exceeds the equiHbrium concentration of 23% (99). The selective synthesis of -xylene using relatively low cost toluene is economically attractive however, this technology was not commercialized as of 1991. 

Side-chain anionic alkylation reactions with aromatic compounds take place when cataly2ed with strong basic catalysts, like Na—K (228). The yield is 83% when o-xylene reacts with butadiene... 

The same type catalyst modified with boron (41), magnesium (42), or phosphoms (43) to reduce the pore size can be used to alkylate toluene with ethylene to produce predominantly -ethyltoluene. Since -ethyltoluene [622-96-8] has the smallest effective diameter of the ethyltoluene isomers, the selectivity to this isomer is favored because it can most easily escape the ZSM-5 pore stmcture. For the same reason, the alkylation of toluene [108-88-3] to xylene [106 2-3] also is favored over the usual acid catalyzed equiHbrium mixture of isomers when it is carried out over magnesium- or phosphoms-modified ZSM-5 (44). 

Naphthalene, xylenes and alkyl benzenes can be purified by sulfonation with concentrated sulfuric acid and crystallisation of the sodium sulfonates. The hydrocarbon is distilled out of the mixture with superheated steam. 

Compare the results given below for the alkylation of p-xylene under a variety of conditions. Explain the reasons for the variation in product composition with temperature and with the use of n- versus i-propyl chloride. 

Benzene is a flammable liquid and its vapors are toxic and explosive. Low concentrations are dangerous on continued inhalation because benzene affects the blood forming function of the bone marrow and it is a cancirogen. Dermatitis may result from repeated skin contact. Alkyl derivatives such as toluene and xylenes are far less toxic and are, therefore, much safer than benzene for use in solvents. Some of the symptoms of benzene poisoning are dizziness, constriction of the chest, and tightening of the leg muscles. 

An alternative copolymerization is illustrated by the method of Blasius. In this preparation, a phenol-formaldehyde (novolac) type system is formed. Monobenzo-18-crown-6, for example, is treated with a phenol (or alkylated aromatic like xylene) and formaldehyde in the presence of acid. As expected for this type of reaction, a highly crosslinked resin results. The method is illustrated in Eq. (6.23). It should also be noted that the additional aromatic can be left out and a crown-formaldehyde copolymer can be prepared in analogy to (6.22). ... 

ArH = dimethoxybenzenes, anisol, xylenes, fluorene, diphenyl ether, etc R = alkyl, aryl... 

Thiation was most frequently carried out in pyridine - for unsubstituted compounds which are considerably polar, this is a prerequisite. The less polar iV-alkylated derivatives can be thiated in toluene or xylene for thiation of 6-azathymine, tetralin was also used. ... 

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