Aralkylation

#This invention relates to a method of aralkylating benzene or alkylbenzenes (hereinafter referred to generically as "alkylbenzenes"). More particularly, this invention is concerned with a method of adding aromatic olefins (hereinafter referred to generically as "styrenes") having a double bond in the position conjugated with the benzene ring to alkylbenzenes in high yield in the addition of olefins or mixtures thereof to alkylbenzenes.

#The reaction of adding various olefins to alkylbenzenes is known as Friedel-Crafts reaction and as an important reaction from the standpoint of chemical industry. This addition reaction is classified into an alkylation reaction of alkylbenzenes with aliphatic compounds having an olefinic double bond (hereinafter referred to as "aliphatic olefins"), and an aralkylation of styrenes with alkylbenzenes. The term "olefins" is a general term for both aliphatic olefins (including the so-called diolefins) and aromatic olefins (including styrenes). These terms will be used hereinafter.

#Alkylated compounds are used as a starting material in the chemical industry, and per se are used as an insulating or lubricating oil. On the other hand, aralkylated compounds, which are superior in heat resistance, compatibility and electrical characteristics, are known as an industrially preferred aromatic synthetic oil suitable for a heat transfer medium, a plasticizer, a reaction solvent and an insulating oil. Because of the difficulty in the manufacturing process, however, there is only a limited number of chemical enterprises which manufacture such aralkylated compounds independently.

#Working and comparative examples are given below to illustrate the invention more concretely.

#Into a reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer, a reflux condenser, a thermometer and a dropping funnel were charged 530 g. of orthoxylene and a predetermined amount of a resin catalyst ("Nafion" Powder 501).

#The resin catalyst used had been converted from K.sup.+ type to H.sup.+ type by sulfuric acid treatment.