| abstract |
A process for the selective manufacture of 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene from naphthalene advantageously combines an equilibration reactor to enhance the amount of monoisopropylnaphthalene fed to the alkylation reactor, and the use of a shape selective catalyst in the alkylation reactor, to obtain an alkylation reaction product in which the 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene isomer comprises greater than 39 mole percent of the total diisopropylnaphthalene obtained. Further, this combination of reaction steps and conditions produces a reaction product in which the ratio of 2,6-diisopropylnaphthalene to 2,7-diisopropylnaphthalene is greater than 1.0, preferably greater than 1.2. Recycled process components are fed to the equilibration reactor where they are combined with fresh naphthalene feed to provide a monoisopropylnaphthalene enriched feed to the alkylation reactor. |