Catalyst composition and method for chlorinating aromatic compounds

1. A catalyst composition prepared by combining (A) at least one salt comprising a metal cation of a metal selected from the group consisting of a d-block Group 4-12 metal; and an organic counterion to the metal cation, derived from at least one acidic organic compound selected from the group consisting of those with an approximate pKa value relative to water of at least about 3; and (B) at least one organic sulfur compound.

2. A composition according to claim 1 further comprising chlorine and an aromatic compound.

3. A composition according to claim 2 wherein the aromatic compound is a monocyclic hydrocarbon.

4. A composition according to claim 3 wherein the aromatic compound is toluene or o-xylene.

5. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the organic compound is a carboxylic acid or a derivative thereof.

6. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the organic compound is a 2,4-dione or a derivative thereof.

7. A composition according to claim 1 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, zirconium, titanium, vanadium, niobium, palladium and platinum.

8. A composition according to claim 1 wherein component A is a copper salt.

9. A composition according to claim 1 wherein component A is a nickel salt.

10. A composition according to claim 1 wherein component A is a cobalt(II) salt.

11. A composition according to claim 1 wherein component A is a manganese(II) salt.

12. A composition according to claim 1 wherein component A is cupric acetate, cupric 2,4-pentanedionate, cupric 1,1,1,5,5,5 -hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionate, cupric benzoate, nickel acetate, nickel 2,4-pentanedionate, nickel 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate, cobalt(II) acetate, cobalt(II) stearate, cobalt(II) 2,4-pentanedionate, manganese(II) acetate, manganese(II) stearate or manganese(II) 2,4-pentanedionate.

13. A composition according to claim 1 wherein component A is molybdenum oxide 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionate, zirconium 2,4-pentanedionate, zirconium trifluoro-2,4-pentanedionate, titanium oxide 2,4-pentanedionate, vanadium 2,4-pentanedionate, niobium 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionate, palladium 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionate or platinum 2,4-pentanedionate.

14. A composition according to claim 1 wherein component B is a dialkyl or diaryl sulfide, dialkyl or diaryl disulfide, alkyl or aryl mercaptan, phenoxathiin, thiophene, dibenzothiophene, thianthrene or phenothiazine.

15. A composition according to claim 14 wherein component B is phenothiazine-N-carbonyl chloride, N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine, 2-chloro-N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine or 2-trifluoromethyl-N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine.

16. A composition according to claim 2 wherein the proportion of component A is in the range of about 0.005-10.0% by weight based on aromatic compound.

17. A composition according to claim 16 wherein the proportion of component A is in the range of about 0.07-3.0% by weight based on aromatic compound.

18. A composition according to claim 2 wherein the proportion of component B is in the range of about 0.005-10.0% by weight based on aromatic compound.

19. A composition according to claim 18 wherein the proportion of component B is in the range of about 0.01-0.1% by weight based on aromatic compound.

20. A catalyst composition for chlorinating toluene or o-xylene which comprises at least one reaction product of (A) at least one salt comprising a metal cation of a metal selected from the group consisting of a d-block Group 4-12 metal and an organic counterion derived from at least one acidic organic compound selected from the group consisting of those with an approximate pKa value relative to water of at least about 3; and (B) at least one organic sulfur compound.

21. A catalyst composition for chlorinating toluene or o-xylene which comprises (A) at least one salt of copper, nickel, cobalt or manganese with a carboxylic acid or 2,4-dione, or derivative thereof; and (B) at least one organic sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of phenothiazine-N-carbonyl chloride, N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine, 3-chloro-N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine and 3-trifluoromethyl-N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine.

22. A composition according to claim 21 wherein component A is cupric acetate, cupric 2,4-pentanedionate or cupric 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedionate.

23. A composition according to claim 21 wherein component B is phenothiazine-N-carbonyl chloride.

24. A catalyst composition for chlorinating toluene or o-xylene which comprises at least one reaction product of (A) at least one salt of copper, nickel, cobalt or manganese with a carboxylic acid or 2,4-dione, or derivative thereof; and (B) at least one organic sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of phenothiazine-N-carbonyl chloride, N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine, 3-chloro-N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine, and 3-trifluoromethyl-N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine.

25. A catalyst composition prepared by combining (A) copper sulfate; and (B) at least one organic sulfur compound.

26. A catalyst composition for chlorinating toluene or o-xylene which comprises (A) copper sulfate; and (B) at least one organic sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of phenothiazine-N-carbonyl chloride, N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine, 3-chloro-N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine, and 3-trifluoromethyl-N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine.

27. A composition according to claim 26 wherein component B is phenothiazine-N-carbonyl chloride.

28. A catalyst composition for chlorinating toluene or o-xylene which comprises at least one reaction product of (A) copper sulfate; and (B) at least one organic sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of phenothiazine-N-carbonyl chloride, N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine, 3-chloro-N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine, and 3-trifluoromethyl-N-trifluoroacetylphenothiazine.