Preparation of organoaluminum compounds and linear alcohols derived therefrom

摘要

This invention provides a process for making an aluminum trialkyl product which process comprises reacting a mixture comprising, (i) an aluminum alkyl feed which contains one or more aluminum alkyls represented by the formula R3Al, where R represents a C2 to C20 straight chain alkyl radical and each R can be the same or different, the alkyl radicals in said aluminum alkyl feed having an average chain length of at least about C8, and (ii) a linear alpha-olefin feed which contains one or more linear alpha-olefins, said alpha-olefin feed having an average chain length which is at least about 2 carbons greater than the average chain length of the alkyl radicals in said aluminum alkyl feed, in the presence of a catalytic amount of a cobalt displacement catalyst, the reaction being at a temperature sufficient to displace olefins corresponding to R from said aluminum alkyl feed and to substitute in their place alkyl radicals derived from said linear alpha-olefin feed so as to form an aluminum trialkyl product having an average alkyl chain length which is greater than said aluminum alkyl feed, and the reaction being under sub-atmospheric pressure such that displaced olefins are removed form the reaction mixture. Long chain, linear alcohols can be prepared by oxidation and hydrolysis of the aluminum trialkyl products.