Alkylation of benzene and toluene with ethylene on metal chloride Al(Fe)/Cl complexes forming in situ from an Al-Fe alloy activated by a Ga-In liquid eutectic

The catalytic properties of metal chloride Al(Fe)/Cl complexes formed in situ from Al, Al-Fe alloys samples activated by a liquid eutectics Ga-In type and carbon tetrachloride CCl4 in the benzene - ethylene and toluene - ethylene reaction media are studied under temperature 80 degrees. and pressure 0.2-0.3 MPa. It has been shown that iron-aluminum chloride complexes catalyze the alkylation reaction of benzene with ethylene. The activity and selectivity of the studied complexes are, respectively, 1.6 and 5.6 times higher than those of aluminum chloride complexes. The activity and selectivity of iron-aluminum chloride complexes are comparable to aluminum chloride complexes in the alkylation reaction of toluene with ethylene. Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, it was shown that the iron-aluminum chloride complexes formed in the benzene - ethylene and toluene - ethylene reaction media are represented by tetrahedral tetrachloroaluminate [AlCl4](-) ions and high spin distorted octahedral trichloroferrate [FeCl3](-) ions, which are stabilized triphenylmethyl or p-metyltriphenylmethyl carbenium-ions.