ABSTRACT
The significance of isopropyl benzene has made isopropylation reactions the most widely studied using a wide range of catalysts such as Lewis acids (metal halides) i.e. aluminum chloride, and inorganic acids (Bronsted acids) i.e. sulphuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, supported phosphoric acid, and zeolite. Therefore, in order to produce higher yield of isopropyl benzene from di isopropyl benzenes which are the results of the above isopropylation processes, a series of isomerization and trans alkylation reactions of p- and m-di isopropyl benzenes in the presence of trifluoromethanesulphonic acid (Triflic acid) as catalyst with different molar ratios 1:1, 1:3 and 1:6 of catalyst to each isomer were carried out in liquid phase under atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The results shows that the isomerization and trans alkylation reactions gives higher yield of cumene (46 mol%) at 1:1 molar ratio with both isomers. When the molar ratio of isomer to benzene increases, the conversion of di isopropyl benzene isomers and the yield of cumene also increase.
