GB878746A - Transalkylation of organo-metallo compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for the transalkylation of organometallic compounds while inhibiting the formation of dimers comprises reacting said compound with an olefin while maintaining less than 6%, preferably less than 3% by weight of said olefin in said organometallic compound throughout the reaction period. The organometallic compound may be of the formula RxMHy where R is substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, aralkenyl or cycloalkenyl radical having 2 to 35 carbon atoms, M is a metal, preferably aluminium, antimony, bismuth, cadmium, copper, gallium, germanium, indium, lead, tin, mercury, thallium or zinc, (x+y) is the valency of M and y is 0 or 1. Preferred olefines have 2 to 40 carbon atoms in the molecule. At least 1/100% by weight of olefin should be present throughout the reaction period. In order to facilitate the reaction and maintain the concentration of olefine within the desired limits it is preferred to maintain the organo-aluminium compound in the liquid phase and the olefin in the gaseous phase. Thus it is preferred to carry out the process at a temperature between 0 DEG and 300 DEG C., a pressure from 1 mm Hg to 1000 lbs/sq inch absolute and a reaction period from 0.1 to 30 hours.