Patent ID: 7425659

Claim:
A process for alkylation of benzene with an 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 catalyst selected from the group consisting of MCM-22 and MCM-49, said catalyst having an activity and a selectivity for said monoalkylated benzene; (b) supplying said reaction zone with said benzene and at least one alkylating agent selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, and butylene. (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 the amount of said monoalkylated benzene or the amount of said polyalkylated benzene(s) in said effluent; and (e) controlling said water content in said reaction zone to secure a desired combination of said activity and said selectivity of said catalyst, said water content in said reaction zone being in a range from 1 wppm to about 900 wppm.