In a process for dehydrogenating cyclohexylbenzene and/or alkyl-substituted cyclohexylbenzene compounds, a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising at least one Group 10 metal compound on a support is heated in the presence of hydrogen from a first temperature from 0° C. to 200° C. to a second, higher temperature from 60° C. to 500° C. at a ramp rate no more than 100° C./hour. The dehydrogenation catalyst is contacted with hydrogen at the second temperature for a time from 3 to 300 hours to produce an activated dehydrogenation catalyst. A feed comprising cyclohexylbenzene and/or an alkyl-substituted cyclohexylbenzene compound is then contacted with hydrogen in the presence of the activated dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising biphenyl and/or an alkyl-substituted biphenyl compound.

In a process for dehydrogenating cyclohexylbenzene and/or alkyl-substituted cyclohexylbenzene compounds, a dehydrogenation catalyst comprising at least one Group 10 metal compound on a support is heated in the presence of hydrogen from a first temperature from 0° C. to 200° C. to a second, higher temperature from 60° C. to 500° C. at a ramp rate no more than 100° C./hour. The dehydrogenation catalyst is contacted with hydrogen at the second temperature for a time from 3 to 300 hours to produce an activated dehydrogenation catalyst. A feed comprising cyclohexylbenzene and/or an alkyl-substituted cyclohexylbenzene compound is then contacted with hydrogen in the presence of the activated dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising biphenyl and/or an alkyl-substituted biphenyl compound.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising alkene benzenes or alkene benzene sulfonates or alkylbenzenes or alkylbenzene sulfonates; methods for making alkene benzenes or alkene benzene sulfonates or alkylbenzenes or alkylbenzene sulfonates; where the benzene ring is optionally substituted with one or more groups designated R*, where R* is defined herein. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions comprising 2-phenyl linear alkene benzenes or 2-phenyl linear alkene benzene sulfonates or 2-phenyl linear alkylbenzenes or 2-phenyl linear alkylbenzene sulfonates; methods for making 2-phenyl alkene benzenes or 2-phenyl alkene benzene sulfonates or 2-phenyl alkylbenzenes or 2-phenyl alkylbenzene sulfonates; where the benzene ring is optionally substituted with one or more groups designated R*, where R* is defined herein. This invention also relates to compositions, methods of making, use of, and articles of manufacture comprising 2-ethoxylated hydroxymethylphenyl linear alkyl benzenes. This invention also relates to compositions, methods of making, use of, and articles of manufacture comprising 2-propoxylated hydroxymethylphenyl linear alkyl benzenes.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising alkene benzenes or alkene benzene sulfonates or alkylbenzenes or alkylbenzene sulfonates; methods for making alkene benzenes or alkene benzene sulfonates or alkylbenzenes or alkylbenzene sulfonates; where the benzene ring is optionally substituted with one or more groups designated R*, where R* is defined herein. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions comprising 2-phenyl linear alkene benzenes or 2-phenyl linear alkene benzene sulfonates or 2-phenyl linear alkylbenzenes or 2-phenyl linear alkylbenzene sulfonates; methods for making 2-phenyl alkene benzenes or 2-phenyl alkene benzene sulfonates or 2-phenyl alkylbenzenes or 2-phenyl alkylbenzene sulfonates; where the benzene ring is optionally substituted with one or more groups designated R*, where R* is defined herein. This invention also relates to compositions, methods of making, use of, and articles of manufacture comprising 2-ethoxylated hydroxymethylphenyl linear alkyl benzenes. This invention also relates to compositions, methods of making, use of, and articles of manufacture comprising 2-propoxylated hydroxymethylphenyl linear alkyl benzenes.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising alkene benzenes or alkene benzene sulfonates or alkylbenzenes or alkylbenzene sulfonates; methods for making alkene benzenes or alkene benzene sulfonates or alkylbenzenes or alkylbenzene sulfonates; where the benzene ring is optionally substituted with one or more groups designated R*, where R* is defined herein. More particularly, the present invention relates to compositions comprising 2-phenyl linear alkene benzenes or 2-phenyl linear alkene benzene sulfonates or 2-phenyl linear alkylbenzenes or 2-phenyl linear alkylbenzene sulfonates; methods for making 2-phenyl alkene benzenes or 2-phenyl alkene benzene sulfonates or 2-phenyl alkylbenzenes or 2-phenyl alkylbenzene sulfonates; where the benzene ring is optionally substituted with one or more groups designated R*, where R* is defined herein. This invention also relates to compositions, methods of making, use of, and articles of manufacture comprising 2-ethoxylated hydroxymethylphenyl linear alkyl benzenes. This invention also relates to compositions, methods of making, use of, and articles of manufacture comprising 2-propoxylated hydroxymethylphenyl linear alkyl benzenes.

In a process for producing a methyl-substituted biphenyl compound, at least one methyl-substituted cyclohexylbenzene compound of the formula: ##STR00001##
wherein each of m and n is independently 1, 2, or 3, is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to produce a hydrogenation reaction product comprising at least one methyl-substituted bicyclohexane compound, and the methyl-substituted bicyclohexane compound is then contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound.

In a process for producing a methyl-substituted biphenyl compound, at least one methyl-substituted cyclohexylbenzene compound of the formula: ##STR00001##
wherein each of m and n is independently 1, 2, or 3, is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst to produce a hydrogenation reaction product comprising at least one methyl-substituted bicyclohexane compound, and the methyl-substituted bicyclohexane compound is then contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound.

A catalyst for converting hydrocarbon, a method of making the same, and a method of using the same are provided. Such a catalyst includes a zeotype microporous material, a binder material, and a metal phosphide, which can be in a range of from 0.01% to 10% by weight of a total weight of the catalyst. For example, such a catalyst can be used to convert light alkene or alkane into aromatic hydrocarbon such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, and a combination thereof. The alkene may be ethylene, propylene, butylene, or a combination thereof. The alkene may be supplied directly or from a stream converted from light alkane such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, or a combination thereof.

A catalyst for converting hydrocarbon, a method of making the same, and a method of using the same are provided. Such a catalyst includes a zeotype microporous material, a binder material, and a metal phosphide, which can be in a range of from 0.01% to 10% by weight of a total weight of the catalyst. For example, such a catalyst can be used to convert light alkene or alkane into aromatic hydrocarbon such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, and a combination thereof. The alkene may be ethylene, propylene, butylene, or a combination thereof. The alkene may be supplied directly or from a stream converted from light alkane such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, or a combination thereof.

A catalyst for converting hydrocarbon, a method of making the same, and a method of using the same are provided. Such a catalyst includes a zeotype microporous material, a binder material, and a metal phosphide, which can be in a range of from 0.01% to 10% by weight of a total weight of the catalyst. For example, such a catalyst can be used to convert light alkene or alkane into aromatic hydrocarbon such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, and a combination thereof. The alkene may be ethylene, propylene, butylene, or a combination thereof. The alkene may be supplied directly or from a stream converted from light alkane such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, or a combination thereof.