Polycondensation of benzyl chloride over Ga- and In-modified ZSM-5 type zeolites and Si-MCM-41 or Montmorillonite-K10 supported GaCl3 and InCl3 catalysts

Performance of In- and Ga-modified ZSM-5 type zeolites (namely, In₂O₃/H-ZSM-5, Ga₂O₃/H-ZSM-5, H-GaMFI and H-GaAlMFI) and InCl₃ or GaCl₃ supported on high silica mesoporous MCM-41 or on Mont.-K10 in the liquid phase polycondensation of benzyl chloride to polybenzyl has been investigated. Influence of solvent (namely, dichloroethane, n-heptane and ethanol) and temperature on the rate of polycondensation of benzyl chloride over the catalyst (InCl₃/Si-MCM-41) showing highest polycondensation activity has also been studied. The In- and Ga-containing solid catalysts show good or high activity in the polycondensation reaction at the reaction condition normally employed in the benzylation of aromatic compounds by benzyl chloride. However, the polycondensation is strongly influenced by the solubility of the polybenzyl polymer in the reaction medium and consequently by the solvent used as the reaction medium.