Metathesis process for treating unsaturated hydrocarbons

• US 5,942,653 A
• Filed: 09/06/1996
• Issued: 08/24/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sasol Technology Limited (Sasol Limited)
• Original Assignee: Sasol Technology Limited (Sasol Limited)
• Inventors: Du Plessis, Jan Adriaan Kruger, Jansen Van Rensburg, Alta, Vosloo, Hermanus Cornelius Moolman
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldarola, Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): BULLOCK, IN SUK C
• Application Number:
  US08/708,173
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 585/643, 585/645, 585/646, 585/647
• US Class Current: 585/645
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2231/543 alkene metathesis
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/42 Tin
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/122 Metal aryl or alkyl compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/2265 Carbenes or carbynes, i.e.(image)
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2521/12 Silica and alumina
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 2531/12 containing organo-metallic compounds or metal hydrides
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 6/04 at a carbon-to-carbon double bond
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 6/06 at a cyclic carbon-to-carbon double bond

Abstract

A process for treating unsaturated hydrocarbons comprises subjecting an unsaturated hydrocarbon component to metathesis in the presence of a catalyst system comprising silica, alumina and an alkyl tin compound, thereby to form one or more different hydrocarbons.

Claims

1. A process for treating unsaturated hydrocarbons, which process comprises subjecting an unsaturated hydrocarbon component to metathesis in the presence of a catalyst system comprising silica, alumina and an alkyl tin compound, with the catalyst system being characterized in that it contains no transition metal and that the molar ratio of silica to alumina is at least 75:

25 thereby to form one or more different hydrocarbons.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the unsaturated hydrocarbon component comprises an internal olefin;

an external olefin;

or an unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst system comprises a silica-alumina compound, having the formula SiO₂.Al₂ O₃, as a first component, and an alkyl tin compound having the formula SnR₄, where R is an alkyl group, admixed therewith as a second component.

4. A process according to claim 3, wherein the molar ratio of SiO₂ :

Al₂ O₃ in the first component of the catalyst system is between 77;

23 and 75;

25.

5. A process according to claim 3 wherein, R is methyl (Me), with the proportion of SnMe₄ to SiO₂.Al₂ O₃ being about 5.5×

10^-5 mol SnMe₄ /g SiO₂.Al₂ O₃.

6. A process according to claim 3 wherein, to enhance the activity and/or the selectivity of the catalyst system, the first component thereof contains phosphate ions and/or cesium ions.

7. A process according to claim 6 wherein, the proportion of SnMe₄ to SiO₂.Al₂ O₃ being about 6.2×

10^-5 mol SnMe₄ /g SiO₂.Al₂ O₃.

8. A process according to claim 1, wherein the metathesis is effected at room temperature and at about atmospheric pressure.