Methyl alkylation of toluene using basic zeolite catalysts

摘要

This invention relates to a process for the alkylation of methylbenzene to produce ethylbenzene and styrene. In this process methylbenzene and methanol are contacted with a catalyst formed from a zeolite and an alkali(ne earth) metal compound wherein said compound is selected from alkaline earth metal compound and a mixture of alkaline earth metal compound and alkali metal compound and wherein the sum of the amount of the alkali(ne earth) metal in the compound plus any metal cation exchanged into the zeolite is in excess of that required to provide a fully metal cation-exchanged zeolite.