Diethylated Diphenylethane Species: Main Reaction Intermediates of Ethylbenzene Disproportionation over Large-Pore Zeolites

Abstract

GC/MS evidence for the build-up of diethylated diphenylethane species, as well as of monoethylated diphenylethane derivatives, inside the LaNa-Y cavities during ethylbenzene disproportionation is presented. The role of the former species as reaction intermediates was found to become greater than that of the latter ones with increasing time oil stream. A new dual-cycle mechanism for diethylbenzene formation over large-pore zeolites is proposed based on the overall results presented here.