Alkyl transfer reactions on solid acids. The disproportionation of ethylbenzene and toluene on H-mordenite and HY zeolites

The disproportionation of ethylbenzene and toluene have been compared on two zeolites, H-mordenite and HY. The online examination of products as a function of time on stream reflect the different processes occurring on the two zeolites. The relative activities expressed on a unit aluminium center basis, are in line with their relative cracking (n-heptane) activities reported by others, showing that no extraneous factors affect activity. The data set provides a baseline for the activity of these two zeolites for future use in comparing other more complex alkylation reactions involving mononuclear and binuclear aromatic molecules.