Abstract: A process is provided for transaralkylating a class of starting compounds comprised of aryl-substituted lower alkanes and aryl-substituted fused alkylene ring compounds to produce derivatives of such compounds wherein benzyl substituents thereof have different alkyl substituents compared to the starting compounds. The process is carried out by admixing such a starting compound with a lower alkyl-substituted aromatic compound under liquid phase conditions in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst. The process makes possible new and economical routes for synthesizing desired lower alkyl-substituted benzyl group containing compounds, such as 2,2-di(lower alkyl-substituted) phenyl propanes and 1,3,3-trimethyl-1-(lower alkyl-substituted)-phenyl indans. Thus, there is provided a three-step process for making dixylylpropane from alpha methyl styrene and also a two-step process for making 1,3,3,6-tetramethyl-1-o-xylyl indan from alpha-4-dimethyl styrene.

Abstract: A regioselective process is provided for preparing 4-bromo-o-xylene in an isomer mixture of 4-bromo-o-xylene and 3-bromo-o-xylene by combining a molar excess of bromine with o-xylene. The produced 3-bromo-o-xylene isomer preferentially reacts with the excess bromine to produce dibromo-o-xylenes. The weight ratio of the 4-bromo-o-xylene to the 3-bromo-o-xylene in the product isomer mixture can be as high as about 97:3. Concurrent production of alpha-bromo-o-xylene is avoided by conducting the admixing in either darkness or in sulfur dioxide solution. The dibromo-o-xylene by products are easily separated by subsequent vacuum distillation or similar expedients.

Abstract: A catalytic process is provided for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed stream containing pseudocumene together with a fraction of close boiling hydrocarbon compounds having a normal boiling point in a temperature range of about 320.degree. F. to about 365.degree. F. comprising contacting such hydrocarbon feed steam in the presence of hydrogen with a catalyst comprising AMS-1B crystalline borosilicate molecular sieve whereby such close boiling hydrocarbon compounds are converted to compounds having a normal boiling point below a temperature of about 300.degree. F., and fractionating the effluent product stream.

Abstract: Process of producing relatively pure esters, which comprises reacting a solution of organic acid compound in excess monohydroxy compound in the presence of a tetraalkyl titanate esterification catalyst to produce a monohydroxy solution of organic ester, treating the dissolved organic ester in the substantial absence of water at a temperature of at least 120.degree. C. with solid alkaline earth metal oxide or hydroxide adding at least two mols of water per mol of alkaline earth metal at up to 100.degree. C. and partitioning solid alkaline earth metal compound from the dissolved organic ester.