Temperature-controlled highly selective dimerization of α-methylstyrene catalyzed by Brönsted acidic ionic liquid under solvent-free conditions

A temperature-controlled highly selective dimerization of α-methylstyrene to produce 2,4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-pentene and 1,1,3-trimethyl-3-phenylindan was catalyzed by Brönsted acidic ionic liquid [Hmim]+BF4−. At 60 °C, 2,4-diphenyl-4-methyl-1-pentene was formed in 93% selectivity with >92% conversion under a solvent-free condition while 1,1,3-trimethyl-3-phenylindan could be obtained in 100% selectivity when the reaction temperature was increased to 170 °C. The ionic liquid [Hmim]+BF4− could be reused with almost no loss of activity.

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