Isomerization of paraffinic hydrocarbons with fused salt complex of aluminum halide and manganous halide deposited on a carrier

A process for the isomerization of less-branched paraffinic hydrocarbons to more-branched paraffinic hydrocarbons which comprises contacting said less-branched paraffinic hydrocarbons in the vapor phase at a reaction temperature of from about 180.degree. to about 250.degree. F in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogen halide with a solid catalytic composition comprising a fused salt complex of an aluminum halide selected from the class consisting of aluminum chloride, aluminum bromide and mixtures thereof and a manganous halide selected from the class consisting of manganous chloride, manganous bromide and mixtures thereof;

• present on the surfaces of a porous, refractory inorganic oxide carrier;
• said solid catalytic composition being formed by heating a composite mixture of the halide salt components of the fused salt complex to a temperature above the melting point of the composite, depositing the melted composite on the carrier surfaces and cooling of the carrier containing the melted composite to a temperature below the melting point of the fused salt complex.