Coupling process
AssigneeThe Lummus Company
InventorsMaurice E. Brooks, Herbert Riegel, Harvey D. Schindler, Morgan C. Sze
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Process for coupling an alkane to either an alkane, alkene, aliphatic carboxylic acid, or aromatic hydrocarbon by effecting contacting thereof and a melt containing a multivalent metal halide in both its higher and lower valance state. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the contacting is effected in the presence of an oxygen containing gas or the melt is previously contacted with an oxygen containing gas to produce the corresponding oxyhalide of the metal, whereby the reaction may be effected on a continuous basis.
Claims19
A process for coupling an alkane with at least one member selected from the group consisting of different alkanes, having a number of carbon atoms different than the number of carbon atoms of said alkane, alkenes, and aromatic hydrocarbons, comprising:
- contacting the alkane and said member, both in the vapor phase, with a molten mixture comprising a multivalent metal halide in both its higher and lower valence state, said multivalent metal halide being selected from the group consisting of the chlorides, iodides and bromides of copper, manganese, iron, cobalt and chromium, said contacting being effected at a temperature from about 500.degree. to about 1,200.degree. F to produce a reaction effluent containing a coupled compound containing a number of carbon atoms corresponding to the total number of carbon atoms in said alkane and said member, said coupled compound when said member is said different alkane or said alkene being selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkenes and mixtures thereof, and said coupled compound when said member is said aromatic hydrocarbon being selected from the group consisting of alkyl and alkenyl substituted derivatives of said aromatic hydrocarbon and mixtures thereof.
A process for coupling an alkane having no more than 9 carbon atoms with at least one member selected from the group consisting of different alkanes having a number of carbon atoms different than said alkane and no more than 9 carbon atoms, alkenes having no more than 9 carbon atoms, and benzene, comprising:
- contacting oxygen, the alkane and said member, all in the vapor phase, with a molten mixture comprising a multivalent metal chloride in both its higher and lower valence state, said multivalent metal chloride being selected from the group consisting of the chlorides of copper, manganese, iron, cobalt and chromium, said contacting being effected at a temperature from about 500.degree. F to about 1,200.degree. F to produce a coupled compound containing a number of carbon atoms corresponding to the total number of carbon atoms in said alkane and said member, said coupled compound when said member is said different alkane or said alkene being selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkenes and mixtures thereof, and said coupled compound when said member is said aromatic hydrocarbon being selected from the group consisting of alkyl and alkenyl substituted derivatives of said aromatic hydrocarbon and mixtures thereof.
The process as defined in claim 19 wherein said alkane is ethane, said member is benzene and said coupled compound is selected from the group consisting of ethyl benzene, styrene and mixtures thereof.
A process for coupling an alkane having no more than 9 carbon atoms with at lease one member selected from the group consisting of different alkanes having a number of carbon atoms different than said alkane and no more than 9 carbon atoms, alkenes having no more than 9 carbon atoms, and benzene, comprising:
- contacting the alkane and said member, both in the vapor phase, with a molten mixture comprising a multivalent metal chloride in both its higher and lower valence state and the oxychloride of said metal, said multivalent metal chloride and oxychloride being selected from the group consisting of the chlorides and oxychlorides of copper, manganese, iron cobalt and chromium, said contacting being effected at a temperature from about 500.degree. F to about 1,200.degree. F to produce a coupled compound containing a number of carbon atoms corresponding to the total number of carbon atoms in said alkane and said member, said coupled compound when said member is said different alkane or said alkene being selected from the group consisting of alkanes, alkenes and mixtures thereof, and said coupled compound when said member is said aromatic hydrocarbon being selected from the group consisting of alkyl and alkenyl substituted derivatives of said aromatic hydrocarbon and mixtures thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.