Patent ID: 7718569

Claim:
A process for the selective dimerization of a lower alkene to a C 6 -C 12 alkene, which process comprises contacting, under catalytic distillation conditions, the lower alkene with a catalytic composite comprising: a) a support structure, made of a non zeolite inorganic oxide, having a void fraction ranging from 0.30 to 0.95 and a surface area of from 40 m 2 /g to 500 m 2 /g, the support structure having a shape selected from a ring, a hollow cylinder, a cross or multi partition ring or cylinder with 2, 3, or 4 cell partitions, a saddle, a solid ring, a solid cylinder, a sphere, and a honeycomb body; and b) from 0.01 to 10% by weight of a catalytically active species comprising a group VIII metal, based on the weight of the catalytic composite, which is deposited on the support structure.