Catalytic disproportionation of paraffins using ionic liquids

A hydrocarbon conversion process comprising:

• disproportionating a hydrocarbon feed comprising one or more Cn alkanes, wherein n=5-12, by contacting the hydrocarbon feed with a liquid catalyst in a reaction zone under disproportionation conditions to form a disproportionation product mixture comprising at least about 3 wt % Cn+ alkanes in 1 hr based on the Cn alkanes in the hydrocarbon feed, wherein the liquid catalyst comprises an unsupported ionic liquid and a carbocation promoter, and wherein a mass ratio of the ionic liquid to the hydrocarbon feed is less than 0.75:1;
• wherein the ionic liquid comprises an organic cation selected from the group consisting of:
• where R5-R11 and R18-R21 are independently selected from C1-C20 hydrocarbons, C1-C20 hydrocarbon derivatives, halogens, and H;
• wherein the ionic liquid comprises an anion selected from the group consisting of AlCl4−, Al2Cl7−, Al3Cl10−, AlCl3Br−, Al2Cl6Br−, Al3Cl9Br−, AlBr4−, Al2Br7−, Al3Br10−, GaCl4−, Ga2Cl7−, Ga3Cl10−, GaCl3Br−, Ga2Cl6Br−, Ga3Cl9Br−, CuCl2−, Cu2Cl3−, Cu3Cl4−, ZnCl3−, FeCl3−, FeCl4−, Fe3Cl7−, PF6−, and BF4−;
• and
• wherein the carbocation promoter comprises 2-chloro-2-methylpropane, 2-chloropropane, 2-chlorobutane, 2-chloro-2-methylbutane, 2-chloropentane, 1-chlorohexane, 3-chloro-3-methylpentane, or combinations thereof.