Acid-catalyzed synthesis of mono- and dialkyl benzenes over zeolites:: Active sites, zeolite topology, and reaction mechanisms

This review describes mechanisms of catalytic reactions leading to mono- and dialkyl benzenes over zeolites, which represent an important part of petrochemical products. The emphasis is given to the effect of the type of acid sites, zeolite structure, and reaction conditions on the activity and selectivity of these complex reactions, and particularly to the individual products with respect to their iso- vs. n- and ortho-, meta-, and para-isomers. The first part of the paper deals with the description and analysis of the structure and properties of the acid sites, and zeolite pore inner structure applied in synthesis of alkyl benzenes. Individual reactions leading to the synthesis of propyl benzene, xylenes, ethyl toluenes, diethyl benzenes, and transformation of trimethyl benzenes to xylenes from the view point of the reaction mechanism, function of the acid sites, and inner pore geometry of zeolites are described in the second part.