| abstract |
A catalytic process is provided for the selective production of the para isomer of the compound: <IMAGE> WHERE N IS 1 OR 2 BY CONTACTING A HYDROCARBON PRECURSOR SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ETHYLBENZENE AND MIXTURES OF ETHYLBENZENE OR TOLUENE WITH ETHYLENE, UNDER CONVERSION CONDITIONS, WHICH ENTAIL DISPROPORTIONATION OF THE ETHYLBENZENE OR ALKYLATION OF THE ETHYLBENZENE OR TOLUENE WITH ETHYLENE, IN THE PRESENCE OF A CATALYST COMPRISING A CRYSTALLINE ALUMINOSILICATE ZEOLITE, CHARACTERIZED BY A SILICA TO ALUMINA RATIO OF AT LEAST ABOUT 12, A CONSTRAINT INDEX, AS HEREINAFTER DEFINED, WITHIN THE APPROXIMATE RANGE OF 1 TO 12 AND A MINIMUM CRYSTAL DIMENSION GREATER THAN ABOUT 0.5 MICRON, WHICH ZEOLITE HAS UNDERGONE PRIOR SEQUENTIAL TREATMENT INCLUDING: |