Systems and methods for producing propylene using an MTBE synthesis raffinate are disclosed. An MTBE synthesis raffinate stream first passes through a molecular sieve to separate n-butane and isobutane from the rest of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons of the MTBE synthesis raffinate. The 1-butene in the rest of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons of the MTBE synthesis raffinate is then isomerized to form 2-butene. Therefore, the concentration of 2-butene in the subsequent propylene production process increases due to the separation of n-butane and isobutane and the isomerization of 1-butene, resulting in an improved reaction rate and reaction efficiency for propylene production.

Embodiments of processes and multiple-stage catalyst systems for producing propylene comprising introducing a hydrocarbon stream comprising 2-butene to an isomerization catalyst zone to isomerize the 2-butene to 1-butene, passing the 2-butene and 1-butene to a metathesis catalyst zone to cross-metathesize the 2-butene and 1-butene into a metathesis product stream comprising propylene and C.sub.4-C.sub.6 olefins, and cracking the metathesis product stream in a catalyst cracking zone to produce propylene. The isomerization catalyst zone comprises a silica-alumina catalyst with a ratio by weight of alumina to silica from 1:99 to 20:80. The metathesis catalyst comprises a mesoporous silica catalyst support impregnated with metal oxide. The catalyst cracking zone comprises a mordenite framework inverted (MFI) structured silica catalyst.

Catalytic processes employing rhodium complexes are disclosed, wherein the catalytic processes involve an initial step of activation of a CH bond present within a hydrocarbon substrate. In contrast to prior art techniques, the catalytic processes of the invention can be conducted at low temperatures, and the catalytic compounds are themselves highly recyclable. Also disclosed are the rhodium complexes themselves and processes of making them.

Provided herein is a unique process that prepares a saturated hydrocarbon mixture with well-controlled structural characteristics that address the performance requirements driven by the stricter environmental and fuel economy regulations for automotive engine oils. The process allows for the branching characteristics of the hydrocarbon molecules to be controlled so as to consistently provide a composition that has a surprising CCS viscosity at 35 C. (ASTM D5329) and Noack volatility (ASTM D5800) relationship. The process comprises providing a specific olefinic feedstock, oligomerizing in the presence of a BF.sub.3 catalyst, and hydroisomerizing in the presence of a noble-metal impregnated, 10-member ring zeolite catalyst.

The present disclosure relates to processes for improved yields of propylene via metathesis, primarily from the conversion of C.sub.4 and C.sub.5.sup.+ olefins obtained from steam or fluid catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons. In particular, the present disclosure relates to processes for preparing propylene by improved isomerization of 1-butene to 2-butene relative to the metathesis reaction.

Processes for the production of high purity isobutylene are disclosed. The processes may include supplying a mixed C4 feed stream to a catalytic distillation column, which may contain a butene isomerization catalyst. 1-butene is isomerized to 2-butene and concurrently in the catalytic distillation column the 2-butene is separated from the isobutane and isobutylene. The overheads fraction comprising the isobutane and isobutylene is then condensed in an overheads system and fed to a splitter, where the isobutane is separated from the isobutylene. The process further includes operating the catalytic distillation column at an overheads temperature greater than a bottoms temperature of the splitter, and heating a portion of the splitter bottoms stream via indirect heat exchange with at least a portion of the catalytic distillation column overheads fraction, thereby producing a heated bottoms stream (reboil vapor) fed to the splitter and a cooled overheads fraction.

In an embodiment, a process to convert a feed includes introducing a feed to an oligomerization catalyst in an oligomerization reactor to form a first reactor effluent; introducing the first reactor effluent to a distillation unit to form a first distillation effluent and a second distillation effluent, the second distillation effluent comprising an oligomer of isobutylene; and introducing the second distillation effluent to a cracking reactor to form a cracking reactor effluent comprising a high purity isobutylene. In another embodiment, an apparatus includes a feed line coupled to a first end of an oligomerization reactor; a first distillation unit coupled with a second end of the oligomerization reactor; a first end of a cracking reactor coupled to a second end of the first distillation unit via a first line; a first end of an isomerization reactor coupled to: a third end of the first distillation unit and the feed line.

A method of isomerizing methyl 9-decenoate in a reaction mixture, and forming methyl 8-decenoate, and reacting the methyl 8-decenoate by metathesis to form 1,16-dimethyl 8-hexadecenedioate, and hydrogenating 1,16-dimethyl 8-hexadecenedioate to form 1,16-dimethyl hexadecanedioate. In some embodiments, the 1,16-dimethyl hexadecanedioate can be converted to hexadecanedioic acid.

A method of isomerizing methyl 9-decenoate in a reaction mixture, and forming methyl 8-decenoate, and reacting the methyl 8-decenoate by metathesis to form 1,16-dimethyl 8-hexadecenedioate, and hydrogenating 1,16-dimethyl 8-hexadecenedioate to form 1,16-dimethyl hexadecanedioate. In some embodiments, the 1,16-dimethyl hexadecanedioate can be converted to hexadecanedioic acid.

A novel metal organic framework, EMM-33, is described having the structure of UiO-67 and comprising bisphosphonate linking ligands. EMM-33 has acid activity and is useful as a catalyst in olefin isomerization. Also disclosed is a process of making metal organic frameworks, such as EMM-33, by heterogeneous ligand exchange, in which linking ligands having a first bonding functionality in a host metal organic framework are exchanged with linking ligands having a second different bonding functionality in the framework.