Process for the production of an alkylstyrene and of an alkylphenyl propionic acid

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the production of an alkylstyrene comprising (1) providing a feed containing a 1,1-diarylethane compound, wherein the aryl-group is an al- kylphenyl group; (2) providing a catalyst comprising a zeolite having the MWW-type framework structure; (3) contacting the feed provided in (1) with the catalyst provided in (2) for the catalytic cracking of the 1,1-diarylethane to the alkylstyrene and the alkylbenzene; and (4) separating the alkylstyrene from the reaction product obtained in (3). The present invention further relates to a process for the production of an alkylphenyl propionic acid comprising steps (1) to (4).