Patent ID: 7399894

Claim:
A process for producing cumene which comprises the step of contacting benzene and propylene under at least partial liquid phase alkylating conditions with a particulate alkylation catalyst having catalytic activity, said molecular sieve of said alkylation catalyst is MCM-49; wherein: (I) the particles of said alkylation catalyst have a surface to volume ratio of about 100 to less than 150 inch −1 ; (II) the catalytic activity of said alkylation catalyst is greater than a particulate molecular sieve catalyst containing MCM-49 and having a surface to volume ratio less than 100 inch −1 or greater than 150 inch −1 ; and, (III) the selectivity of said particular alkylation catalyst towards diisopropylbenzene is less than that of a particulate molecular sieve catalyst containing MCM-49 having a surface to volume ratio less than about 100 inch −1 or greater than 150 inch −1.