Abstract: A process for converting ethylbenzene, by which ethylbenzene in a feedstock containing C8 aromatic hydrocarbon is converted to benzene at a high degree of conversion is disclosed. The process for converting ethylbenzene includes bringing a C8 aromatic hydrocarbon mixed feedstocks containing ethylbenzene into contact with an acid type catalyst containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of the metals belonging to Group VII and Group VIII in the presence of H2 to convert ethylbenzene to benzene. The feedstock contains C9-C10 aromatic hydrocarbons including ethyltoluene, and the ethyltoluene is converted to toluene together with the conversion of ethylbenzene.

Abstract: In a process of halogenation of benzene or benzene derivatives, di-substituted halobenzene derivatives having para-aromatic compounds or tri-substituted halobenzene derivatives having 1,2,4-substituted aromatic compounds are selectively produced. In halogenation of benzene or benzene derivatives, a fluorine-containing zeolite catalyst such as L-type zeolite, or a zeolite catalyst having the crystal size of at most 100 nm is used. The reaction is preferably effected in the presence of a solvent, and the solvent is preferably a halogenated compound.

Abstract: Aromatic compounds having an alkyl group with at least 3 carbon atoms are produced in a process comprising at least one of the following steps: (1) a step of contacting a starting material that contains an aromatic compound having a branched alkyl group with at least 3 carbon atoms, with a zeolite-containing catalyst in a liquid phase in the presence of hydrogen therein, thereby changing the position of the carbon atoms of the alkyl group bonding to the aromatic ring of the compound; (2) a step of contacting a starting material that contains an aromatic compound having a branched alkyl group with at least 3 carbon atoms, with a catalyst containing zeolite and containing rhenium and/or silver, in a liquid phase, thereby changing the position of the carbon atoms of, the alkyl group bonding to the aromatic ring of the compound; (3) a step of contacting a halogenated aromatic compound having an alkyl group with at least 3 carbon atoms, with an acid-type catalyst, thereby isomerizing the compound; (4) a step o

Abstract: The present invention is a method for acyloxylating an alkyl group substituted aromatic compound at the side chain, by letting the alkyl group substituted aromatic compound and a carboxylic acid and/or a carboxylic anhydride react with each other in the presence of an oxygen containing gas. In this case, if (1) a solid catalyst in which at least one selected from cobalt, cerium and manganese is supported on a solid material or (2) a catalyst containing at least one selected from cobalt oxides, cerium oxides and manganese oxides is used, an alkali group substituted aromatic compound and a carboxylic acid and/or a carboxylic anhydride can be caused to react with each other efficiently in the presence of an oxygen containing gas, and in addition the catalyst can be easily separated from the reaction solution. Furthermore, (3) a compound diacyloxylated at the side chains can be highly selectively produced if a cerium compound is used as a catalyst in the absence of a cobalt compound and a manganese compound.

Abstract: A method for isomerizing a halogenated ethylbenzene characterized by bringing the same into contact with an acidic zeolite containing at least one metal selected among metals of Groups 7 to 11; and a method of efficiently isolating a m-halogenated ethylbenzene from a mixture of halogenated ethylbenzene isomers by adsorption using a specific zeolite X or Y as the adsorbent. The isomerization method enables a halogenated ethylbenzene to be efficiently isomerized with the zeolite catalyst. The separation method enables m-chloroethylbenzene to be efficiently separated from a mixture of chloroethylbenzene isomers by using a specific zeolite as the adsorbent.

Abstract: Ethylbenzene can be substantially hydrode-ethylated to benzene with a minimized loss of xylene by placing a C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon mixture containing ethylbenzene and xylene in the presence of hydrogen in contact with a catalyst comprising 0.6 to 20.0 parts by weight of rhenium, 100 parts by weight of an acid type of a zeolite having a main cavity inlet composed of a 10-membered oxygen ring and 100 to 900 parts by weight of alumina, which has been subjected to sulfiding.

Abstract: Provided is a process for isomerizing a halogenated toluene using an acid form of zeolite as a catalyst.