Patent ID: 7453018

Claim:
A process for forming a selectively para-alkylated aromatic compound comprising reacting an alkylating agent with a feed comprising an aromatic compound selected from the group consisting of toluene, benzene, naphthalene, alkyl naphthalene and mixtures thereof in the presence of a catalyst under alkylation reaction conditions to produce a product containing said para-alkylated aromatic compound, said catalyst comprising a selectivated H-ZSM-5 molecular sieve and at least one hydrogenation metal selected from the group consisting of Rh, Pt and mixtures thereof, wherein said molecular sieve is selectivated by treatment with a phosphorus compound, a magnesium compound, a silicon compound and mixtures thereof, and wherein at least one of the following conditions is satisfied: a. said selectivated molecular sieve has an alpha value of less than about 50 prior to incorporation of said at least one hydrogenation metal, or b. said selectivated and hydrogenated molecular sieve has an alpha value of less than about 50.