Yields from hydrogen-chloride catalyzed alkylation

With propene, n-butene, and n-pentene, the alkanes formed are propane, n-butane, and n-pentane (plus isopentane), respectively. The production of considerable amounts of light -alkanes is a disadvantage of this reaction route. Furthermore, the yield of the desired alkylate is reduced relative to isobutane and alkene consumption (8). For example, propene alkylation with HF can give more than 15 vol% yield of propane (21). Aluminum chloride-ether complexes also catalyze self-alkylation. However, when acidity is moderated with metal chlorides, the self-alkylation activity is drastically reduced. Intuitively, the formation of isobutylene via proton transfer from an isobutyl cation should be more pronounced at a weaker acidity, but the opposite has been found (92). Other properties besides acidity may contribute to the self-alkylation activity. Earlier publications concerned with zeolites claimed this mechanism to be a source of hydrogen for saturating cracking products or dimerization products (69,93). However, as shown in reaction (10), only the feed alkene will be saturated, and dehydrogenation does not take place. 

The preparation of furyl phosphorodichioridate is based upon a method to prepare 2-chlorofuran (16% yield, Hormi, Nasman unpublished). Later the preparation was extended to a general method to prepare furyl esters from carboxylic acid chlorides lacking a-hydrogens and alkyl furyl carbonates from primary (other than methyl) and secondary alkyl chloroformates. Phosphoryl chloride was the only acid chloride except carbon analogues found to give a furyl ester by the amine-catalyzed reaction. 

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