Process for the selective isomerization of alpha-olefins in the presence of vinylidene olefins

摘要

A process for the isomerization of alpha olefins to internal olefins is disclosed. The process is selective in that when both vinylidene olefins and alpha olefins are present in the feed or reaction mixture, only the alpha olefins are isomerized substantially in the absence of isomerization of the vinylidene olefins to trisubstituted olefins. The catalysts employed in the process are ruthenium trihalides, preferably RuCl3, RuBr3, and/or hydrated forms of these ruthenium trihalides.