The performance of benzenesulfonic acid catalyst on the alkylation of thiophenic sulfur

Catalytic performance of benzenesulfonic acid was investigated for alkylation of thiophenic sulfur compounds with diene. The alkylates were confirmed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry technique. The reaction conditions were optimized as follows: temperature is 85 °C, catalyst/feed weight ratio is 10 % and time is 80 min. Under the conditions, the conversion of thiophene was nearly 73 %. The catalyst exhibited some recycle-use performance. The catalytic activity could be maintained by addition of the fresh catalyst periodically and quantitatively.