UDCaT-5: a novel mesoporous superacid catalyst in the selective synthesis of linear phenyldodecanes by the alkylation of benzene with 1-dodecene

Abstract

LAB are important intermediates used in the detergency sector and are typically manufactured by the alkylation of benzene and α-olefin using highly corrosive, polluting, and dangerous Lewis and Bronsted acids such as AlCl₃ and HF. The position of phenyl group and the alkyl chain length are important factors in determining surface active properties and biodegradability of linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LABS) prepared from LAB. LAB isomer distribution depends strongly on the type and nature of the catalyst and reaction conditions. In this paper, we report the novel mesoporous superacidic catalyst UDCaT-5 developed in our laboratory, which exhibits remarkable activity, selectivity, and stability for the alkylation of benzene using 1-dodecene. Also to get a greater insight into the mechanism and to develop a suitable kinetic model, the parallel reaction of dimerization of 1-dodecene, although insignificant, was also studied indepedently. A systematic investigation of the effects of various operating parameters was accomplished and the best parameters were established. Furthermore, a kinetic model was developed and validated against experimental data.