In situ preparation of metal chloride complexes from Al-Ni alloys activated by liquid Ga-In eutectic and CCl4 in an alkylating benzene-ethylene medium

Spectrokinetic measurements showed that activated Al-Ni alloy is 1.8 times more reactive with respect to a 4- fold molar excess of CCl4 in a benzene – ethylene reaction medium at a temperature of 80 °C and pressures of 0.2-0.3 MPa than activated aluminum. Metal chloride complexes Al(Ni)/Cl were formed in the benzene – ethylene reaction medium from the corresponding activated samples of the Al-Ni alloy in the presence of an excess of the chlorinating additive CCl4 at a temperature of 80 °C and pressures of 0.2-0.3 MPa. It has been shown by infrared spectroscopy and spectrophotometry in the ultraviolet and visible ranges that metal chloride complexes Al(Ni)/Cl are tetrahedral tetrachloroaluminate ions [AlCl4]– and octahedral hexachlorinickelate ions [NiCl6]4–, stabilized by triphenylmethyl cations (C6H5)3C+. It is shown that under the conditions of benzene alkylation with ethylene, metal chloride complexes Al(Ni)/Cl are 2 times more active and 5 times more selective than aluminum chloride complexes.