Abstract: A reforming catalyst comprising a large-pore zeolite and at least one reforming catalytic metal selected from the group consisting of the Group VIII noble metals, having enhanced sulfur tolerance achieved by adding at least one desulfurization metal to the catalyst; and a reforming process having high selectivity for dehydrocyclization which comprises contacting a naphtha boiling in the gasoline boiling range and containing some acyclic hydrocarbons with the foregoing catalyst.

Abstract: Paraffins having a carbon number in excess of 10 are converted to aromatics, such as n-alkylbenzenes, over a dehydrocyclization catalyst comprising a large-pore zeolite containing at least one Group VIII metal. This process is carried out at a pressure of less than 100 psig. The dehydrocyclization catalyst can contain an alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of barium, strontium, and calcium. Preferably, the dehydrocyclization catalyst has from 8 to 10 percent by weight barium and from 0.2 to 1.0 percent by weight platinum, and the large-pore zeolite is a type L zeolite.