Patent ID: 7737313

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) providing crystal agglomerates of a MCM-22 family molecular sieve; (b) reducing the size of said crystal agglomerates of said MCM-22 family molecular sieve by chemical or physical means to an average of less than or equal to 2 microns to form reduced-size MCM-22 family molecular sieve agglomerates; (c) forming a catalyst composition comprising said reduced size MCM-22 family molecular sieve agglomerates and a binder, said catalyst composition having a monoalkylated aromatic compound selectivity; and (d) contacting at least one alkylatable aromatic compound and at least one alkylating agent with said catalyst composition under suitable alkylation or transalkylation conditions, to produce at least one effluent which comprises said monoalkylated aromatic compound; wherein the monoalkylated aromatic compound selectivity of said catalyst composition is greater than the monoalkylated aromatic compound selectivity of a catalyst composition having an average crystal agglomerate size greater than 16 microns, when said reaction zone is operated under equivalent conditions.