Abstract: Alkylatable aromatic hydrocarbons are alkylated with olefins and alkylhalides under anhydrous alkylating conditions in the presence of a metallic cation exchanged trioctahedral 2:1 layer-lattice smectite-type catalyst in which the metallic cation has a Pauling electronegativity greater than 1.0. In a specific embodiment, there is provided a catalyst comprising a trioctahedral smectite-type clay having the structural formula:[(aM.sup.+1 +bM.sup.+2 +cM.sup.+3).sup.VI (dD.sup.+3 +eD.sup.+4 +fd.sup.+5).sup.IV O.sub.20 (OH).sub.4-y F.sub.y ] (x/z)R.sup.zwherein the cations M are in the central octahedral layer and have an ionic radius not greater than 0.75A, the cations D are in the two outer tetrahedral layers and have an ionic radius not greater than 0.64A, R is at least one metallic cation having a Pauling electronegativity greater than 1.0, such as Al.sup.3+, In.sup.3+, and Cr.sup.3+ in cation exchange positions on the surface of the clay platelets, and wherein11.ltoreq.a+2b+3c.ltoreq.12.331.ltoreq.3d+4e+5f.

Abstract: Alkylatable aromatic hydrocarbons are alkylated with olefins and alkylhalides under anhydrous alkylating conditions in the presence of certain metallic cation exchanged synthetic hectorite-type catalysts in which the metallic cation has a Pauling electronegativity greater than 1.0 and in which the central octahedral layer contains one or more divalent metals which have an ionic radius not greater than 0.75 A. In a specific embodiment, 1-dodecene is reacted with benzene by contacting the dodecene and benzene under anhydrous alkylating conditions in the liquid phase at the boiling point of the mixture with a catalyst comprising a metallic cation such as Al.sup.3+, In.sup.3+, and Cr.sup.3+ exchanged onto the surface of a synthetic nickeliferous hectorite.

Abstract: Alkylatable aromatic hydrocarbons are alkylated with olefins and alkylhalides under anhydrous alkylating conditions in the presence of a metallic cation exchanged trioctahedral 2:1 layer-lattice smectite-type catalyst in which the metallic cation has a Pauling electronegativity greater than 1.0. In a specific embodiment, 1-dodecene is reacted with benzene by contacting the dodecene and benzene under anhydrous conditions in the liquid phase at the boiling point of the mixture with a catalyst comprising a metallic cation such as Al.sup.3.sup.+, In.sup.3.sup.+ and Cr.sup.3.sup.+ exchanged onto the surface of hectorite clay.

Abstract: Alkylatable aromatic hydrocarbons are alkylated with olefins and alkylhalides under anhydrous alkylating conditions in the presence of certain metallic cation exchanged synthetic hectorite-type catalysts in which the metallic cation has a Pauling electronegativity greater than 1.0 and in which the central octahedral layer contains one or more divalent metals which have an ionic radius not greater than 0.75 A. In a specific embodiment, 1-dodecene is reacted with benzene by contacting the dodecene and benzene under anhydrous alkylating conditions in the liquid phase at the boiling point of the mixture with a catalyst comprising a metallic cation such as Al.sup.3.sup.-, In.sup.3.sup.- and Cr.sup.3.sup.- exchanged onto the surface of a synthetic nickeliferous hectorite.

Abstract: Alkylatable aromatic hydrocarbons are alkylated with olefins and alkylhalides under anhydrous alkylating conditions in the presence of a metallic cation exchanged trioctahedral 2:1 layer-lattice smectite-type catalyst in which the metallic cation has a Pauling electronegativity greater than 1.0. In a specific embodiment, 1-dodecene is reacted with benzene by contacting the dodecene and benzene under anhydrous conditions in the liquid phase at the boiling point of the mixture with a catalyst comprising a metallic cation such as Al.sup.3.sup.+, In.sup.3.sup.+ and Cr.sup.3.sup.+ exchanged onto the surface of hectorite clay.

Abstract: Alkylatable aromatic hydrocarbons are alkylated with olefins and alkylhalides under anhydrous alkylating conditions in the presence of a metallic cation exchanged synthetic saponite-type catalyst in which the central octahedral layer contains one or more divalent cations selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ni, Co, Zn, Mn, Cu, and mixtures thereof, provided that the octahedral layer contains less than 95 mole % Mg, and in which the metallic cation has a Pauling electronegativity greater than 1.0. In a specific embodiment, 1-dodecene is reacted with benzene by contacting the dodecene and benzene under anhydrous conditions in the liquid phase at the boiling point of the mixture with a catalyst comprising a metallic cation such as Al.sup.3.sup.+, In.sup.3.sup.+ and Cr.sup.3.sup.+ exchanged onto the surface of a nickeliferous saponite-type clay.