PRODUCTION OF BIPHENYLS ETHYLATED AT 4-POSITION

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain the title substances by reacting raw material biphenyl or ethylbiphenyl with a polyethylbenzene at a specific molar ratio of C2H5 groups/benzene rings of the polyethylbenzene in a specific proportion of the raw material in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst at a temperature within a specified range. CONSTITUTION:(A) Raw material biphenyls selected from biphenyl and ethylbiphenyl are reacted with (B) a polyethylbenzene at >=3.5 molar ratio of ethyl groups/benzene rings as an alkylating agent in the presence of a homogeneous catalyst (e.g. AlCl3 or FeCl3) at >=1 (preferably >=1.5) weight ratio of the components [(A)/(B)] and 0.02-0.05 (preferably 0.025-0.035) weight ratio of the catalyst/[component (A) + component (B)] at 0-110 deg.C (preferably 10-90 deg.C) to produce the title substances in high selectivity. The rate of reaction is regulated so as to provide a conversion rate/hr expressed by the formula (Co is the conversion rate of the raw materials; Et is the number of mol of ethyl groups in a reactor; Bz is the number of mol of benzene rings; Bp is the number of mol of biphenyl rings).