Patent ID: 8227652

Claim:
A method comprising: (a) combining at least toluene, water in an amount such that the water content is in the range of more than 100 ppm to about 350 ppm based on the content of the water and the toluene, and sodium-potassium alloy to form a mixture; (b) maintaining the mixture at above 180° C. to about 220° C. for at least about 30 minutes; (c) cooling the mixture to about 150° C. to about 130° C.; (d) combining at least the mixture and ethene to form a reaction mixture; (e) maintaining the reaction mixture at about 130° C. to about 150° C. for longer than about 1 hour while agitating the reaction mixture with a high shear impeller at about 150 psig to about 300 psig; (f) producing propylbenzene.