Patent ID: 8247628

Claim:
A process for reacting an iso-alkane, comprising: a) partially converting one or more olefins in an olefinic feedstock with an ionic liquid catalyst selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl substituted pyridinium chloroaluminate, hydrocarbyl substituted imidazolium chloroaluminate, and mixtures to make a converted olefinic feedstock; wherein the partially converting step converts one or more iso-olefins, one or more alpha-olefins, or a mixture thereof, while one or more linear internal olefins in the converted olefinic feedstock remain unconverted; and b) alkylating the iso-alkane with the converted olefinic feedstock, wherein a reaction heat that is evolved during the alkylating is at least 20% less than if the alkylating step is done with the iso-alkane and the olefinic feedstock without the partially converting step.