Abstract: This invention relates to dendritic macromolecules and their use in metal-dendritic macroligand complex catalyzed processes, e.g., hydroformylation. The use of metal-dendritic macroligand complex catalysts in such processes facilitates the separation of desired product from catalyst, for example, by membrane filtration.

Abstract: A process and catalysts for the direct oxidation of an olefin having three or more carbon atoms, such as propylene, by oxygen to an olefin oxide, such as propylene oxide. The process involves contacting the olefin under reaction conditions with oxygen in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst. The catalyst contains silver and titanium, optionally gold, and optionally, at least one promoter element selected from Group 1, Group 2, zinc, cadmium, the lanthanide rare earths, and the actinide elements. Suitable supports include titanium dioxide, titanium dioxide on silica, titanosilicates, promoter metal titanates, titanium dispersed on silica and promoter metal silicates.

Abstract: A process and catalyst for the direct oxidation of an olefin having three or more carbon atoms, such as propylene, by oxygen to the corresponding olefin oxide, such as propylene oxide. The process involves contacting the olefin with oxygen under reaction conditions in the presence of hydrogen and in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst comprises gold on a titanosilicate, preferably a microporous or mesoporous titanosilicate, such as, TS-1, TS-2, Ti-beta, Ti-ZSM-48, or Ti-MCM-41. Selectivity to the olefin oxide is high at good conversions of the olefin. The catalyst is readily regenerated, and the time between catalyst regenerations is long.

Abstract: A process of preparing an alkylated benzene or mixture of alkylated benzenes involving contacting a benzene feedstock with a solid acid, such as an acidic clay or acid zeolite, in a pretreatment zone at a temperature greater than about 130° C. but less than about 300° C. to form a pretreated benzene feedstock, and thereafter contacting the pretreated benzene feedstock with (a) an alkylating agent in an alkylation zone or (b) a transalkylating agent in a transalkylation zone, in the presence of an alkylation/transalkylation catalyst so as to prepare the alkylated benzene or mixture of alkylated benzenes. The pretreatment step improves the lifetime of the alkylation/transalkylation catalyst. Preferred products are ethylbenzene and cumene.

Abstract: A process and catalyst for the hydro-oxidation of an olefin having three or more carbon atoms, such as propylene, to form an olefin oxide, such as propylene oxide. The process involves contacting the olefin with oxygen under reaction conditions in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst. The catalyst contains oxidized gold dispersed on a titanium-containing support, preferably, a support having a plurality of titanium coordination environments, for example, titanium grafted onto a titanosilicate. Selectivity to olefin oxide is high at good conversion of the olefin. The catalyst uses hydrogen efficiently and exhibits a long lifetime.

Abstract: A process and catalyst for the direct oxidation of an olefin having three or more carbon atoms, such as propylene, by oxygen to the corresponding olefin oxide, such as propylene oxide. The process involves contacting the olefin with oxygen under reaction conditions in the presence of hydrogen and in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst comprises gold on a titanosilicate, preferably a microporous or mesoporous titanosilicate, such as, TS-1, TS-2, Ti-beta, Ti-ZSM-48, or Ti-MCM-41. Selectivity to the olefin oxide is high at good conversions of the olefin. The catalyst is readily regenerated, and the time between catalyst regenerations is long.

Abstract: A process and catalyst for the direct oxidation of an olefin having three or more carbon atoms, such as propylene, by oxygen to an olefin oxide, such as propylene oxide. The process involves contacting the olefin with oxygen under reaction conditions in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst. The catalyst comprises gold on a support of titanium dispersed on silica. The titanium phase is disorganized and substantially free of crystalline titanium dioxide, as determined by analytical methods, such as, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Selectivity to olefin oxide is high at good conversions of the olefin. The time between catalyst regenerations is long, and the catalyst is readily regenerated.

Abstract: A zeolite-based ethylbenzene process which is suitable for retrofitting aluminum chloride-based ethylbenzene plants. The process involves alkylating benzene with ethylene in an alkylation zone in the presence of zeolite beta or Y or an MCM zeolite so as to produce an alkylation product mixture containing benzene, ethylbenzene, and polyethylbenzenes which can be separated in the aromatics recovery (distillation) stage of an aluminum chloride-based plant. The polyethylbenzenes are subsequently contacted with benzene in a transalkylation zone using zeolite beta or mordenite or Y so as to produce a transalkylation product mixture which is also separable in the aromatics recovery stage of an aluminum chloride-based plant.

Abstract: A process of preparing an organic amine having at least one unsaturated group, such as an arylamine, involving contacting an unsaturated organic sulfonate, such as an aryl sulfonate, with a reactant amine, such as an alkyl or aryl amine, in the presence of a base and a transition metal catalyst under reaction conditions. The transition metal catalyst contains a Group 8 metal and a chelating ligand, for example a Group 15-substituted arylene or Group 15-substituted metallocene, such as 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-2,2'-binaphthyl or 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-ferrocene, respectively. The aryl sulfonate can be prepared from a phenol and sulfonating agent.

Abstract: A process of preparing a crystalline porous solid selected from silicas and metallosilicates, such as, aluminosilicate zeolites or clathrasils. The process involves preparing a reaction mixture containing ammonia; water in a controlled concentration; a (hydrocarbyl)ammonium polysilicate hydrate salt; a mineralizer, such as ammonium fluoride; optionally, a source of a metal oxide, such as aluminum nitride; and optionally, a source of a charge-balancing cation or a structure directing agent; and maintaining the mixture at a temperature and for a time so as to produce the crystalline porous solid. A novel silica which is isostructural with zeolite P1 is prepared. Also prepared are a novel silica which is isostructural with zeolite beta and a novel TMA sodalite having a silica/alumina molar ratio between 12 and about 20.

Abstract: A process of reforming an alkyleneamine feedstock or a mixture of such feedstocks to an alkyleneamine or a mixture of alkyleneamines which is different from the feedstock or feedstock mixture. The process is catalyzed by one of the following: Group VB metal oxides, Group VB metal phosphates, Group IIA metal silicates, and tungsten oxides. For example, ethylenediamine is contacted with a catalyst of niobic acid or magnesium silicate to yield predominantly diethylenetriamine and non-cyclic triethylenetetramines; whereas high molecular weight polyethylenepolyamines are cracked by the same catalysts to mixtures of lower molecular weight linear and cyclic materials.

Abstract: A process of preparing ethylbenzene from ethane and benzene as raw materials. The process involves (1) contacting ethane in a dehydrogenation zone with a dehydrogenation catalyst, namely, a mordenite zeolite, optionally, containing a metallic component selected from gallium, zinc, and the platinum group metals under reaction conditions which yield a dilute ethylene stream in ethane. Thereafter, the ethylene stream with essentially no further purification or separation is contacted in an alkylation zone with benzene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst, such as an acidic zeolite or a porous magnesium silicate, under reaction conditions such that ethylbenzene is formed.

Abstract: A process of preparing diaryl carbonates, such as diphenyl carbonate, and aryl haloformates, such as phenyl chloroformate. The process involves contacting phenol or a substituted phenol with a carbonyl halide, such as phosgene, in the presence of a phosphorus-containing catalyst. The catalyst is selected from alkyl phosphates, aryl phosphites, aryl phosphates, organic phosphinites and phosphinates, organic pyrophosphates, inorganic phosphorous and phosphoric acids, and phosphorus oxides.

Abstract: A process of reforming an alkyleneamine feedstock or a mixture of such feedstocks to an alkyleneamine or a mixture of alkyleneamines which is different from the feedstock or feedstock mixture. The process is catalyzed by one of the following: Group VB metal oxides, Group VB metal phosphates, Group IIA metal silicates, and tungsten oxides. For example, ethylenediamine is contacted with a catalyst of niobic acid or magnesium silicate to yield predominantly diethylenetriamine and non-cyclic triethylenetetramines; whereas high molecular weight polyethylenepolyamines are cracked by the same catalysts to mixtures of lower molecular weight linear and cyclic materials.

Abstract: A novel microporous crystalline aluminosilicate designated DCM-2 is disclosed. The composition, as synthesized, contains lithium cations and is represented by the oxide composition: Li.sub.2 O.multidot.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 .multidot.10SiO.sub.2. The lithium cations may be exchanged with hydrogen ions, and in the acid form the composition is useful as an adsorbent and as a catalyst for converting alkyl halides and alkanols to light hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process for the production of dialkyl carbonates, such as dimethyl carbonate. In one aspect, the process involves contacting under reaction conditions an alkanol, such as methanol, with carbon monoxide and oxygen in the vapor phase and in the presence of a catalyst containing (1) a copper halide, a copper oxyhalide, or a copper carboxylate halide, (2) a quaternary ammonium salt, and (3) a support component. The catalyst achieves high selectivity and productivity to dialkyl carbonates. In a second aspect, the addition of a chlorocarbon catalyst regenerator to the alkanol feed increases catalyst stability and lifetime and increases the selectivity and/or productivity to dialkyl carbonates.

Abstract: A process for the cyclodimerization of 1,3-butadienes to 4-vinylcyclohexenes. The process involves contacting butadiene with a copper (I)-aluminosilicate zeolite prepared by (a) an impregnation method, or (b) heating a solid mixture of a copper salt and the zeolite, or (c) contacting vapors of a copper salt with the zeolite. The catalysts exhibit long life and good activity in the claimed process. The impregnated Cu(I)-catalyst is claimed.

Abstract: Crystalline microporous solids, such as aluminosilicate zeolites or silica molecular sieves, are grown in a fluoride-containing, substantially non-aqueous medium to form crystals on the order 0.3-3 mm in size. This growth process involves preparing a mixture containing one or more nutrients capable of forming the crystalline microporous solid, such as a source of silica and a source of alumina; water in a controlled amount; a growth medium comprising hydrogen fluoride and a nitrogen-containing organic base, such as pyridine; and optionally an organic solvent and/or a structure-directing agent; and thereafter heating the resulting mixture for a time sufficient to produce the crystalline microporous solid.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of bishydroxy aromatic compounds, such as 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, involving contacting a ketone, such as fluorenone, with phenol or substituted phenol in the presence of a mercaptan cocatalyst and a solid superacid catalyst of Hammett acid strength H.sub.0 greater than about -13.0. Solid superacid catalysts include the sulfates, sulfated oxides, sulfated oxyhydroxides, and sulfated oxysilicates of aluminum, tin, and the Group IVA metals, such as zirconium, as well as mixed metal oxides, such as tungsten-zirconium oxides. Isolated yields are high for 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene.

Abstract: A process for preparing olefins and diolefins in high productivity which involves contacting an aliphatic hydrocarbon, such as butane, with a heterogeneous catalyst composition containing reactive oxygen under reaction conditions sufficient to produce a more highly unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon, such as 1,3-butadiene. The catalyst composition contains a glassy silica matrix of specified surface area and macro-porosity into which are encapsulated domains of a catalyst component containing oxides of magnesium and molybdenum. The catalyst has high crush strength and is useful in transport reactors.