Patent ID: 7501547

Claim:
A process for producing an alkylaromatic compound in a multistage reaction system comprising at least first and second series-connected alkylation reaction zones each containing an alkylation catalyst, the process comprising the steps of: (a) introducing a first feed comprising an alkylatable aromatic compound and a second feed comprising an alkene and one or more alkanes into said first alkylation reaction zone; (b) operating said first alkylation reaction zone under conditions effective to cause alkylation of said alkylatable aromatic compound by said alkene, said conditions being such that part of said alkylatable aromatic compound is in the vapor phase and part is in the liquid phase; (c) withdrawing from said first alkylation reaction zone an effluent comprising said alkylaromatic compound, unreacted alkylatable aromatic compound, any unreacted alkene and said alkane; and (d) without removing said alkane from said effluent, supplying said effluent and said alkene to the second alkylation reaction zone; and (e) operating said second alkylation reaction zone under conditions effective to cause alkylation of said alkylatable aromatic compound by said alkene, said conditions being such that part of said alkylatable aromatic compound is in the vapor phase and part is in the liquid phase; wherein the operating conditions in (b) and (e) are such that the ratio of the volume of liquid to the volume of vapor in each of said first and second reaction zones is from about 0.5 to about 10, and wherein said alkylation catalysts in each of said first and second alkylation reaction zones comprise at least one of MCM-22, MCM-36, MCM-49 and MCM-56.