The subject invention provides synthetic compounds, and compound complexes having catalytic activities towards oxidation or oxygenation, and/or dehydrogenation of various substrates comprising C−H bonds. The catalysts of the subject invention comprise a dinuclear Cu(I)/Cu(II) center that can convert between a resting state and a reactive species. The subject invention also provides methods of using such catalysts for the oxidation of substrates comprising C−H bonds, e.g., hydrocarbons, to synthesize chemicals for use as pharmaceuticals and industrial feedstock.

Processes and systems for dehydrogenating ethylbenzene may include mixing a steam stream and an ethylbenzene stream to form a feed mixture. The ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture may then be fed to a dehydrogenation reactor containing an alkali metal promoted catalyst. A liquid, selected from an alkali metal liquid, an alkali metal compound liquid, or a liquid solution comprising an alkali metal, may be injected into a feed stream, such as the steam stream, the ethylbenzene stream, or the ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture. Following injection, the liquid vaporizes and disperses into the feed stream upstream of the dehydrogenation reactor. The liquid may be maintained as a liquid from a point upstream of injection to an injection nozzle. The liquid is dispersed through the injection nozzle, in liquid form, to form droplets of liquid dispersed in the feed stream, which evaporate and/or dissolve into the vaporous feed stream.

Processes and systems for dehydrogenating ethylbenzene may include mixing a steam stream and an ethylbenzene stream to form a feed mixture. The ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture may then be fed to a dehydrogenation reactor containing an alkali metal promoted catalyst. A liquid, selected from an alkali metal liquid, an alkali metal compound liquid, or a liquid solution comprising an alkali metal, may be injected into a feed stream, such as the steam stream, the ethylbenzene stream, or the ethylbenzene/steam feed mixture. Following injection, the liquid vaporizes and disperses into the feed stream upstream of the dehydrogenation reactor. The liquid may be maintained as a liquid from a point upstream of injection to an injection nozzle. The liquid is dispersed through the injection nozzle, in liquid form, to form droplets of liquid dispersed in the feed stream, which evaporate and/or dissolve into the vaporous feed stream.

To provide a platinum-loaded alumina catalyst with an improved catalyst life.

A platinum-loaded alumina catalyst includes an alumina carrier, and platinum loaded on the alumina carrier, wherein the alumina carrier includes a γ-alumina carrier having a surface area of 200 m.sup.2/g or more, a pore volume of 0.50 m.sup.2/g or more, an average pore diameter in a range of 60 to 150 Å, with pores having a pore diameter in a range of ±30 Å from the average pore diameter occupying 60% or more of a total pore volume, platinum particles are loaded on γ-alumina carrier in a range of 0.1 to 1.5% by weight calculated as elemental platinum (Pt), and 70% or more of the platinum particles have a size of 8 to 15 Å by direct observation using a transmission electron microscope.

The present invention provides an indene composition having a content of indene of 80 to 99.5% by mass, in which a content ratio of a hydrocarbon compound having a condensed ring structure of a 5-membered ring and a 6-membered ring, and having 9 or 10 carbon atoms, in a component contained in addition to indene, is 90% by mass or more, and a content of benzonitrile is 0.5% by mass or less, and a content of sulfur is 5 ppm by mass or less.

The present invention provides an indene composition having a content of indene of 80 to 99.5% by mass, in which a content ratio of a hydrocarbon compound having a condensed ring structure of a 5-membered ring and a 6-membered ring, and having 9 or 10 carbon atoms, in a component contained in addition to indene, is 90% by mass or more, and a content of benzonitrile is 0.5% by mass or less, and a content of sulfur is 5 ppm by mass or less.

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a process for preparing a composite hydroalkylation catalyst including: (a) effecting impregnation of a hydrogenation metal on an inorganic oxide to form a metal impregnated inorganic oxide; (b) effecting calcination of the metal impregnated inorganic oxide to obtain a calcined metal impregnated inorganic oxide; (c) preparing a composite mixture comprising a molecular sieve, the calcined metal impregnated inorganic oxide and a binder; (d) preparing an extruded catalyst; and (e) effecting calcination of the extruded catalyst to obtain the composite hydroalkylation catalyst. The composite hydroalkylation catalyst prepared using this process affords dramatic improvement in conversion of mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon and the yield of the hydroalkyled mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. CHB).

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a process for preparing a composite hydroalkylation catalyst including: (a) effecting impregnation of a hydrogenation metal on an inorganic oxide to form a metal impregnated inorganic oxide; (b) effecting calcination of the metal impregnated inorganic oxide to obtain a calcined metal impregnated inorganic oxide; (c) preparing a composite mixture comprising a molecular sieve, the calcined metal impregnated inorganic oxide and a binder; (d) preparing an extruded catalyst; and (e) effecting calcination of the extruded catalyst to obtain the composite hydroalkylation catalyst. The composite hydroalkylation catalyst prepared using this process affords dramatic improvement in conversion of mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon and the yield of the hydroalkyled mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (e.g. CHB).

A method for producing p-xylene, comprising: a dimerization step of bringing a first raw material comprising isobutene into contact with a dimerization catalyst comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of Group 9 metal elements and Group 10 metal elements to generate C8 components comprising 2,5-dimethylhexene; and a cyclization step of bringing a second raw material comprising the C8 components into contact with a dehydrogenation catalyst to generate p-xylene by the cyclodehydrogenation reaction of the C8 components.

A method for producing p-xylene, comprising: a dimerization step of bringing a first raw material comprising isobutene into contact with a dimerization catalyst comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of Group 9 metal elements and Group 10 metal elements to generate C8 components comprising 2,5-dimethylhexene; and a cyclization step of bringing a second raw material comprising the C8 components into contact with a dehydrogenation catalyst to generate p-xylene by the cyclodehydrogenation reaction of the C8 components.