Patent ID: 6958427

Claim:
A method for the catalytic dehydrogenation of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons comprising reacting the alkylaromatic hydrocarbons with carbon dioxide in the presence of a heterogenous solid catalyst comprising vanadium and iron and a catalyst promoter selected from the group consisting of antimony, tin, potassium, magnesium, lanthanum, chromium, cerium, molybdenum, calcium, manganese, zirconium, and cesium oxide, wherein said heterogenous solid catalyst being associated with a support, selected from the group consisting of alumina, zirconia, metal-modified alumina and metal-modified zirconia said heterogenous solid catalyst being from about 0.1 to about 30 weight % of vanadium and from about 0.1 to about 30 weight % of iron, relative to the total weight of the heterogeneous solid catalyst and support; said vanadium and iron being active components; and said carbon dioxide functions as an oxidant.