Patent ID: 7803976

Claim:
A process for alkylation of benzene with at least one alkylating agent to produce a monoalkylated benzene, comprising the steps of: (a) providing at least one reaction zone having a water content with at least one alkylation catalyst having an activity and a selectivity for said monoalkylated benzene, said alkylation catalyst comprising a porous crystalline molecular sieve having a framework type MWW combined with either FAU or *BEA; (b) supplying said reaction zone with said benzene and said at least one alkylating agent; (c) operating said reaction zone under suitable alkylation conditions, to produce at least one effluent which comprises a monoalkylated benzene and polyalkylated benzene(s); (d) monitoring said amount of said monoalkylated benzene or said amount of said polyalkylated benzene(s) in said effluent; and (e) adjusting said water content in a range from about 1 wppm to about 900 wppm in said reaction zone to secure a desired combination of said activity and said selectivity of said alkylation catalyst based on said amount of said monoalkylated benzene or said polyalkylated benzene(s) of (d).