Patent ID: 8022261

Claim:
A process for alkylation or transalkylation of an alkylatable aromatic compound with an alkylating agent to produce a monoalkylated aromatic compound, comprising the steps of: (a) contacting at least one said alkylatable aromatic compound and at least one said alkylating agent with a catalyst composition under suitable alkylation or transalkylation conditions in at least one reaction zone, to produce at least one effluent which comprises said monoalkylated aromatic compound and a monoalkylated aromatic compound selectivity; said catalyst composition comprising: (i) a crystalline MCM-22 family molecular sieve; and (ii) a binder, said binder comprising a condea alumina wherein said catalyst composition is characterized by a cumulative pore volume of greater than or equal to 0.153 ml/g for pores having a pore diameter ranging from about 2 nm to about 8 nm, wherein said porosity is measured by N 2 porosimetry, wherein the monoalkylated aromatic compound selectivity of said catalyst composition is greater than the monoalkylated aromatic compound selectivity of a catalyst composition having an extra-molecular sieve porosity outside the range of said catalyst composition the for pores having a pore diameter ranging from about 2 nm to about 8 nm, when said reaction zone is operated under equivalent alkylation or transalkylation conditions.