Regioselective preparation of .beta.-isopropylnaphthalene over superacidic solid or supported perfluorinated sulfonic acid catalysts
AssigneePCUK Produits Chimiques Ugine Kuhlmann
InventorGeorge A. Olah
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Abstract
A process for the production of .beta.-isopropylnaphthalene in high regioselectivity (90-98%) by alkylation of naphthalene over solid or supported superacid catalysts, such as a perfluorinated alkanesulfonic acid of four to eighteen carbon atoms (C.sub.4 F.sub.9 SO.sub.3 H to C.sub.18 F.sub.37 SO.sub.3 H) or a polymeric perfluorinated resin-sulfonic acid, such as the acid form of the commercially available Nafion-K ion-membrane resin (DuPont). Further isomerization of mixtures of isomeric isopropylnaphthalenes to preferentially pure .beta.-isopropylnaphthalene can also be effected.
Claims8
A process for the regionselective production of .beta.-isopropylnaphthalene which comprises reacting naphthalene with a propylating agent over a superacidic solid or supported solid perfluorinated sulfonic acid catalyst.
A process for the conversion of mixtures of .alpha.- and .beta.-isopropylnaphthalene into essentially pure .beta.-isopropylnaphthalene which comprises contacting the mixture with a superacidic solid or supported solid perfluorinated sulfonic acid catalyst.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.