Alkylation of Aromatic Hydrocarbons with 2-Methyl-2-Vinyl-gem-Dichlorocyclopropane over Zeolite Catalysts

Abstract

It has been found as a result of the investigation of the catalytic properties of various microporous zeolites (of FAU, BEA, MOR, and MFI structural types) and a micro–meso–macroporous H-Ymmm zeolite (FAU) in the alkylation reaction of arenes (benzene (II) and toluene (III)) with the unsaturated compound 2-methyl-2-vinyl-gem-dichlorocyclopropane (I) that the reaction proceeds with the formation of chloroalkylarenes [1-(2,2-dichloro-1-methylcyclopropyl)ethyl]benzene (IV) and 1-[1-(2,2-dichloro-1-methylcyclopropyl)ethyl]-4-methylbenzene(V). Compounds IV and V are the most selectively formed over H-Beta (up to 82%) and H-Ymmm (up to 79%) zeolite catalysts with a high conversion of I (from 90% to full). It has been shown that high selectivity for chloroalkylarenes IV and V is achieved at 100°C, an arene : unsaturated compound molar ratio of 8 : 1, a catalyst concentration of 20 wt % of the reaction mass, and a reaction time of 2 h.