Disclosed is a method for converting cymene generated from renewable low value terpene streams into renewable benzene, toluene, xylenes, and cymene isomers (ortho and meta) under flow disproportionation reaction conditions, which compounds are basic building blocks for fragrance materials. This technology has potential to replace high volume petrochemical-based feedstocks with plant-based building blocks that can fill the renewability gap for key fragrance ingredients.

Methods of hydromethylation of alkenes and ketones, including methods that use Tebbe's reagent. The methods may include contacting Cp.sub.2Ti(μ-Cl)(μ-CH.sub.2)AlMe.sub.2 and an alkene or a ketone to produce an intermediate product that may include a titanacyclobutane. The intermediate product may be contacted with an acid to produce a methylated product.

Methods of hydromethylation of alkenes and ketones, including methods that use Tebbe's reagent. The methods may include contacting Cp.sub.2Ti(μ-Cl)(μ-CH.sub.2)AlMe.sub.2 and an alkene or a ketone to produce an intermediate product that may include a titanacyclobutane. The intermediate product may be contacted with an acid to produce a methylated product.

Catalyst composition which comprises a first zeolite having a BEA* framework type and a second zeolite having a MOR framework type and a mesopore surface area of greater than 30 m.sup.2/g is disclosed. These catalyst compositions are used to remove catalyst poisons from untreated feed streams having one or more impurities which cause deactivation of the downstream catalysts employed in hydrocarbon conversion processes, such as those that produce mono-alkylated aromatic compounds.

Catalyst composition which comprises a first zeolite having a BEA* framework type and a second zeolite having a MOR framework type and a mesopore surface area of greater than 30 m.sup.2/g is disclosed. These catalyst compositions are used to remove catalyst poisons from untreated feed streams having one or more impurities which cause deactivation of the downstream catalysts employed in hydrocarbon conversion processes, such as those that produce mono-alkylated aromatic compounds.

A process is described for producing cumene comprising contacting benzene and a C3 alkylating agent under alkylation conditions with an alkylation catalyst in an alkylation zone to produce an alkylation effluent comprising cumene and alkylaromatic compounds heavier than cumene. Cumene is recovered from the alkylation effluent to leave a byproduct stream containing the alkylaromatic compounds heavier than cumene, which is separated into a polyisopropylbenzene-containing stream, an aromatic overhead stream, and a bottoms product. At least part of the aromatic overhead stream is recycled to the alkylation zone to reduce raw material consumption and improve cumene yield.

A process is described for producing cumene comprising contacting benzene and a C3 alkylating agent under alkylation conditions with an alkylation catalyst in an alkylation zone to produce an alkylation effluent comprising cumene and alkylaromatic compounds heavier than cumene. Cumene is recovered from the alkylation effluent to leave a byproduct stream containing the alkylaromatic compounds heavier than cumene, which is separated into a polyisopropylbenzene-containing stream, an aromatic overhead stream, and a bottoms product. At least part of the aromatic overhead stream is recycled to the alkylation zone to reduce raw material consumption and improve cumene yield.

Provided is a method for producing (alkyl)arene compounds represented by Formulae 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 by the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of alkyl halide compounds and arene compounds using organic phosphine compounds as a catalyst. ##STR00001##

Provided is a method for producing (alkyl)arene compounds represented by Formulae 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3 by the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction of alkyl halide compounds and arene compounds using organic phosphine compounds as a catalyst. ##STR00001##

A method of reducing a C—O bond to the corresponding C—H bond in a substrate, which could be a benzylic alcohol, allylic alcohol, ester or an ether bond beta to a hydroxyl group or alpha to a carbonyl group using a recyclable metal catalyst system. The recyclable catalyst system is also applicable to reducing a C═O bond to the corresponding C—OH bond and then C—H bond. These methodologies can be linked in one-pot to selective oxidation and depolymerizations of aromatic polyols such as lignin.