Creating a Heterohomogeneous Catalytic System for the Alkylation of Benzene with Ethylene through the Reaction beteen Carbon Tetrachloride and Aluminum Alloys

The in situ formation of a catalytic heterohomogeneous system containing Al–M alloy (M is Ni, Co, Cu) and Al(M)/Cl complex in a benzene–ethylene medium at a temperature of 80°C and a pressure of 0.2–0.3 MPa is studied. The characteristic patterns of interaction between Al–M alloys activated with a liquid metal Ga–In eutectic and a chlorinating agent (CCl 4 ) with the formation of catalytically active metal–aluminum chloride Al(M)/Cl complexes are established. Results from spectrokinetic measurements show the order of the reactivity of activated alloys with respect to excess CCl 4 is Al–Cu ≈ Al–Ni > Al > Al–Co. The highest catalytic activity is displayed by nickel–aluminum chloride complexes whose selectivity toward ethylbenzene is 48%. Data from IR and UV-VIS spectroscopy show that the structure and composition of metal chloride complexes formed in situ in the aromatic reaction medium is determined by a combination of coupled ionic pairs and , which are stabilized by (C 6 H 5 ) 3 C + carbocation.