Dehydration of alpha-methylbenzyl alcohols over silica to form monovinylidene aromatic monomers
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of our previous application Ser. No. 601,946 filed Aug. 4, 1975, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,049,736 which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 39,889 filed May 22, 1970, abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the vapor phase dehydration of α-alkylbenzyl alcohols and substituted analogues thereof to form styrene and substituted styrenes. 
     Dehydration of alcohols to their corresponding unsaturated structural compounds is well known in the art. Dehydration techniques are not generally employed in the manufacture of styrene and many homologues thereof because standard dehydrogenation of ethyl benzene is considered to be a more economic route. In addition, styrenes produced by conventional dehydration techniques often contain enough ethyl benzene and other impurities to require extensive purification. 
     It is characteristic of standard dehydrogenation techniques employed in the production of styrene that fairly large quantities of unreacted ethyl benzene be present in the styrene fraction. Such quantities of ethyl benzene in the styrene fraction are substantial enough to cause loss of properties in polymers of such styrene fractions. Furthermore, due to the closeness of the boiling points of styrene and ethyl benzene, removal of ethyl benzene by distillation is expensive. 
     Moreover, normal dehydrogenation of many substituted ethyl benzenes, particularly the tertiary alkyl substituted ethyl benzenes, destroys or alters the substituted group. For example, dehydrogenation of ar-(t-alkyl)-ethyl benzene to form their corresponding styrenes usually results in rupture and/or loss of the t-alkyl group as well as ethyl group dehydrogenation. 
     Attempts to prepare ar-(t-alkyl)styrenes by conventional dehydration of the corresponding ar-(t-alkyl)-α-methylbenzyl alcohols have not been satisfactory due to the formation of other byproducts and the rupture of the t-alkyl group which frequently accompanies dehydration. As a result of this rupture, appreciable quantities of ethyl benzene and under certain conditions, diolefinically unsaturated aromatic monomers are formed in addition to the desired ar-(t-alkyl)styrene. These diolefinically unsaturated aromatic monomers, e.g., ar-(i-propenyl)styrene in dehydration of ar-(t-butyl)-α-methylbenzyl alcohol, are very difficult to separate from the desired ar-(t-alkyl)styrene. During polymerization of the ar-(t-alkyl)styrene monomer, the diolefinically unsaturated aromatic monomer acts as a crosslinking agent thereby producing a substantially crosslinked styrene polymer which is insoluble in many organic solvents such as toluene and benzene. This lack of solubility is undesirable in many applications employing such styrene polymers. 
     Conventional dehydration techniques for preparing styrene and substituted styrenes are not completely satisfactory in that substantial amounts of ethyl benzene and other difficult to separate impurities often remain or are produced. Such difficulties have been pointed out in prior publications such as U.S. Pat. No. 2,399,395 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,442,963. 
     Therefore, it would be highly desirable to provide a new, improved technique for producing styrene and substituted styrenes in high yield which contain little or no ethyl benzene and other impurities, particularly diolefinically unsaturated aromatic monomers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly the present invention is an improved process for dehydrating α-alkylbenzyl alcohols and to form the corresponding styrene monomer in high yield and purity. This improved process comprises contacting an α-alkylbenzyl alcohol, as hereinafter described in detail, in vapor phase with a dehydration catalyst consisting essentially of silica gel in the presence of from about 0.03 to about 25 parts by weight of added water per part by weight of alcohol. 
     Prior art teachings indicate that water produced during dehydration of an alcohol should be removed from the reaction mixture in order to move the reversible dehydration reaction to the right and thereby increase the yield of the unsaturated product. In the process of this invention, a silica gel of a type which has heretofore often been employed as a support for another catalyst is used as the dehydration catalyst. Surprisingly, in the practice of this process, it is found that the presence of water (preferably accomplished by addition of from about 0.03 to about 25 weight parts per weight part of alcohol to the alcohol prior to dehydration and/or during dehydration) effectively increases the yield of the desired styrene and substantially reduces, and under optimum conditions, almost completely eliminates the formation of ethyl benzene and other impurities which are difficult to separate. In general, the desired monovinylidene aromatic monomer is produced in purity greater than about 99 mole percent and contains less than about 1, preferably less than about 0.5, mole percent of alkyl benzene impurity, so-called ethyl benzene impurity. 
     As a result, styrene monomers produced by this method require little or no further purification to remove impurities having boiling points nearly the same as the monomer; thus expensive distillation procedures are eliminated. Styrene polymers produced from these styrene monomers are found to have improved properties as a result of the increased purity. As a result of low concentrations, i.e., less than 0.02 mole percent based on total monomer, of diolefinic impurity, ar-(t-alkyl)styrenes produced by this process can be polymerized directly into polymers which are soluble in toluene, benzene and other organic solvents. Such organic soluble polymers are particularly useful in various coatings, thermoplastic molding, reactive diluents, polyester varnish and chemical applications that require a monomer essentially free of diolefinic species. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For the purposes of this invention, the term &#34;α-alkylbenzyl alcohol&#34; includes α-alkylbenzyl alcohols, especially α-methylbenzyl alcohol and substituted analogues thereof. Such alcohols are represented by the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen, alkyl having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, e.g., methyl, t-butyl, t-amyl and other t-alkyl; halogen, e.g., bromo, chloro, and fluoro; or the like and R 1  is hydrogen or alkyl having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. 
     Exemplary α-alkylbenzyl alcohols include α-methylbenzyl alcohol, ar-chloro-α-methylbenzyl alcohol, ar-bromo-α-methylbenzyl alcohol, ar-fluoro-α-methylbenzyl alcohol, ar-dichloro-α-methylbenzyl alcohol, ar-dibromo-ar-chloro-α-methylbenzyl alcohol, ar-chloro-α-ethylbenzyl alcohol, 4-chloro-2,5-difluoro-α-methylbenzyl alcohol, ar-(t-butyl)-α-methylbenzyl alcohol, ar-(t-amyl)-α-methylbenzyl alcohol, ar,α-dimethylbenzyl alcohol, α-ethyl-2-isopropyl-5-methylbenzyl alcohol, α-isobutyl-2,4,5-trimethylbenzyl alcohol, and the like. 
     Preferred α-alkyl benzyl alcohols are α-methylbenzyl alcohol, ar-halo-α-methylbenzyl alcohol such as ar-chloro- and ar-bromo-α-methylbenzyl alcohol and ar-(t-alkyl)α-methylbenzyl alcohols such as p-(t-butyl)-α-methylbenzyl alcohol, p-(t-amyl)-α-methylbenzyl alcohol and similar alcohols wherein t-alkyl has 4 to 8 carbon atoms. The above alcohols are known compounds and can be prepared by syntheses obvious to those skilled in the art. Illustratively, ar-alkyl-α-methylbenzyl alcohols can be prepared by the stepwise synthesis of (1) alkylating ethyl benzene with olefin in the presence of sulfuric acid in accordance with the method of Ipatieff et al., JACS, Vol. 58, 919(1936), (2) oxidizing the alkylated ethyl benzene to the corresponding acetophenone-alcohol mixture as described by H. J. Sanders et al., I &amp; E Chem, Vol 45, 2(1953), and (3) reducing the mixture by catalytic hydrogenation to the desired alcohol. 
     The silica gel employed in this invention may be in any of the several forms of silica gel which will permit intimate contact between the silica gel and alcohol vapor during the dehydration. It is desirable that the silica gel be in the form of a divided solid, preferably in the form of particles not measuring more than about an inch in any dimension. Further the silica gel should be of a type that is not degraded or destroyed when contacted with large quantities of water. Although good results are obtained with a number of grades of particulate silica gel, best results are obtained with the silica gel in the form of a particulate solid having a mesh size ranging from about 2 to about 400 and a surface area of at least about 300 square meters per gram, preferably from 300 to 900 m 2  /g. Of especial preference are the commercial grades of silica gel that have heretofore been employed as supports for other catalysts. In these preferred embodiments, the possibility of complete contact between the silica gel and the alcohol is maximized. It is especially preferred that the silica gel be finely divided porous particles having an average pore diameter ranging from about 2 to about 200 Angstrom Units. Methods for preparing silica gel are well known to skilled artisans. Also any of several commercial grades of silica gel fitting the above general description may be employed. 
     In the practice of this invention the α-alkylbenzyl alcohol in vapor phase is contacted with the silica gel in the presence of from about 0.03 to about 25 parts by weight of water per part by weight of alcohol, preferably from about 0.5 to about 20 weight parts, especially from about 1 to about 2 parts of water per weight part of alcohol. It is generally preferable that the alcohol be intimately mixed with specified amounts of water in the form of steam prior to dehydration. This is easily accomplished by passing liquid or vaporous mixtures of the alcohol and water over or through a bed or column of an effective heat transfer material such as silicon carbide, fused ceramic packing or non-corrosive metal packing. In such embodiments, a column having a lower portion of a bed of silica gel and an upper portion of the heat transfer agent can be made and the alcohol containing water is then passed downward into the column through the heat transfer agent and then through the silica gel bed. It is often desired to employ an organic carrier liquid which is a solvent for the alcohol, e.g., toluene or benzene, but which can be easily removed by simple distillation. In such embodiments, the alcohol and carrier liquid are mixed together prior to vaporization of the alcohol mixture. It is understood that the addition of water to the reaction may be made after the alcohol has passed through the heat transfer agent. Also the water need not be added in the form of steam or super-heated steam although it is preferred to do so. 
     Generally, the desirable temperatures of operation of the process of this invention are in the range of about 200° C. to 510° C., preferably from about 260° C. to about 500° C., especially from about 300° to about 400° C. In the dehydration of ar-(t-alkyl)-α-methylbenzyl alcohols, it is desirable to employ dehydration temperatures above 260° C., preferably from about 325° C. to about 425° C. in order to insure contact between the silica gel and the alcohol in the vapor state. It is generally desirable to carry out dehydration at atmospheric pressure, although it is possible to achieve dehydration with relatively good purity and yield at subatmospheric to superatmospheric pressure, e.g., from about 0.2 to about 5 atmospheres. Vaporization of the alcohol, however, may be advantageously achieved by using reduced pressure. Vaporization may also be achieved by contacting the alcohol with steam or superheated steam substantially prior to dehydration. 
     The quantity of silica gel which effectively dehydrates the alcohol depends in part upon the rate at which the vaporous alcohol is to be passed through the silica gel bed or column, upon the surface area of the gel per unit of weight, upon the amount of water to be employed. Generally higher vapor flow rates and larger quantities of water require more silica gel to achieve effective dehydration. 
     Practice of the present invention as described hereinbefore yields the desired monovinylidene aromatic monomer, particularly the ar-(t-alkyl)styrene, in purity greater than 99 mole percent based on total product after simple distillation which removes unreacted ketones and alcohols. Accordingly, the alkyl benzene impurity is held below about 1, preferably below about 0.5 mole percent. In dehydration of the ar-(t-alkyl)-α-methylbenzyl alcohols by the method of this invention, diolefinic and other polyolefinic impurity is held below 0.02 mole percent based on total product after simple distillation. 
     The invention is further illustrated by the following examples which should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. All parts and percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     A first mixture of 50 parts of α-methylbenzyl alcohol and 50 parts of toluene is preheated to 300° C. and mixed with 100 parts of steam at 300° C. The resulting steam/alcohol mixture is passed downward at a rate equivalent to that employed in Example 2 through a glass column (1&#34; outside diameter × 27&#34; length) equipped with an electric furnace and containing a 14-inch upper layer of silicon carbide (8 mesh) preheated to 350° C. and a 6-inch lower layer (20 g) of silica gel (on 10 mesh, 300 m 2  of surface area/g, pore volume of 1 cc/g and sold as a catalyst support under the trade name Davison Silica Gel Grade 57 by Davison Chemical). Water and dehydrated organic product are condensed in the lower part of the column, collected and separated. The organic product is dried and distilled. The distilled product is determined by infrared spectroscopy and vapor phase chromatography to be  99 +  mole percent styrene containing less than 0.5 mole percent of ethyl benzene. Overall yield on the basis of starting alcohol is greater than 95 percent. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     A mixture of 50 parts of 4-(t-butyl)-α-methylbenzyl alcohol and 50 parts of toluene is prepared. A reaction column (1&#34; outside diameter × 27&#34; length) is filled to a bed height of 8-9 inches with silica gel (8-10 mesh, 340 m 2  of surface area/g, 140A average pore diameter and sold as a catalyst support under the trade name Davison Silica Gel Grade 70 by Davison Chemical) and sufficient amount of silicon carbide (6 mesh) is added to the tube to increase total bed height to 16 inches. The reaction column is heated to 300° C. Water preheated to 300° C. and the mixture are added simultaneously into the feed end of the column at rates of 90 ml/hr and 45 ml/hr respectively. An intimate admixture of steam and the alcohol mixture in vapor phase is formed and passes downward through the silicon carbide preheated to 350° C. which acts as a preheat section for the vapor and then through the silica gel to effect dehydration. Following passage through the silica gel, water and organic product are condensed in the column, and collected. The dehydrated organic product is decanted, dried and distilled. The distilled product is determined by infrared spectroscopy and vapor phase chromatography to be 4-(t-butyl)styrene at 99 percent or greater purity. Overall yield on basis of amount of starting alcohol is greater than 90 percent. 
     Polymerization of the 4-(t-butyl)styrene by heating in the presence of benzoyl peroxide yields a polymer which is soluble in toluene at 20° C. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     Several sample runs are carried out generally according to the procedure of Example 2. In these runs, mixtures of 50 parts of 4-(t-butyl)-α-methylbenzyl alcohol and 50 parts of toluene are prepared and mixed with varying amounts of steam. The vaporous steam-alcohol mixture is passed downward into a glass column (1&#34; OD × 27&#34; length) having a 14&#34; upper bed of silicon carbide (10 mesh) preheated to varying temperatures and a 6&#34; lower bed of silica gel (same as in Example 2). Water and dehydrated organic product are condensed, collected and separated as in Example 2. The results are recorded in Table I. 
     To show the particular advantage of employing added water in this system, a control run (C 1 ) is made under conditions similar to the above runs with the exception that no water is added to the alcohol at any point prior to or during dehydration, the results of this control run are also recorded in Table I. To indicate upper limits as to temperature during dehydration, two control runs (C 2  and C 3 ) employing varying amounts of water are also carried out in accordance with the procedures employed in the above sample runs. The results are recorded in Table I. 
     
                                           TABLE I                                 
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Sample     Reaction Impurities (2)                                        
Run Water/Alcohol                                                         
           Temperature (1),                                               
                    Isopropenyl                                           
                             4-(T-Butyl)Ethyl                             
                                      Polymer (3)                         
No. parts per part                                                        
           ° C.                                                    
                    Styrene, mole %                                       
                             Benzene, mole %                              
                                      Solubility                          
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1   ˜5.0                                                            
           410      0        0.15     Soluble                             
2   ˜1.4                                                            
           406      0        0.15     Soluble                             
3   ˜0.84                                                           
           406      0        0.14     Soluble                             
4   ˜0.56                                                           
           395      0        0.13     Soluble                             
5   ˜20.0                                                           
           393      0        0.2      Soluble                             
6   ˜20.0                                                           
           445      0        0.2      Soluble                             
7   ˜20.0                                                           
           505      &lt;0.02    0.7      Soluble                             
8   ˜0.50                                                           
           400      0        0.1      Soluble                             
9   ˜0.50                                                           
           448      0        0.4      Soluble                             
10  ˜0.50                                                           
           506      &lt;0.02    0.6      Soluble                             
C.sub.1 *                                                                 
    ˜0                                                              
           400      0.12     0.23     Insoluble                           
C.sub.2 *                                                                 
    ˜20.0                                                           
           550      &gt;0.11    1.4      Insoluble                           
C.sub.3 *                                                                 
    ˜0.50                                                           
           550      &gt;0.18    1.5      Insoluble                           
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 *Not an example of the invention                                         
 (1) Reaction temperature corresponds to temperature of silicon carbide   
 heat transfer means.                                                     
 (2) Approximate mole % of the specified impurity based on moles of       
 p-(t-butyl)styrene produced. Determined by Gas Phase Chromatography and  
 infrared Spectroscopy.                                                   
 (3) Solubility of 10% p-(t-butyl)styrene polymer in toluene at 23°
 C.                                                                       
 
    
     EXAMPLE 4 
     Several sample runs are carried out essentially according to Example 2 except that a wide range of temperatures are employed. In the several runs, mixtures of 50 parts of ar-(t-butyl)-α-methylbenzyl alcohol containing ˜7 mole percent of ar-(t-butyl)acetophenone and 50 parts of toluene are prepared. A glass column (1&#34; OD and 16&#34; length) equipped with an electric furnace is filled to a height of 3.5&#34; with silicon carbide (8 mesh, 42 grams), to a total height of 13.5&#34; with silica gel (same as in Example 2, 50 grams), and to total height of 16.0&#34; with silicon carbide (8 mesh, 40 grams) and preheated to varying temperatures from 200° to 500° C. for the several runs. Steam superheated to at least 550° C. and the alcohol/toluene mixture are added simultaneously into the feed end of the column at rates of 100 ml/hour (measured as condensed water) and 50 ml/hour respectively. An intimate admixture of steam and the alcohol mixture in vapor phase is formed and passes downward through the heat transfer agent and the silica gel to effect dehydration. The water and organic product are then condensed, collected and separated. The organic product is distilled and dried, and its constituency is determined by infrared spectroscopy and vapor phase chromatography. The results are shown in Table II. 
     To point out the advantage of silica gel catalysts over conventional dehydration catalysts, several control runs (C 4  -C 8 ) are made employing essentially the same procedure used above except that a titania dehydration catalyst (4-8 mesh, and 70 m 2  of surface area/g) is substituted for silica gel. The dehydration column has a 3.5&#34; bottom layer of silicon carbide (8 mesh), a 10&#34; middle layer of titania catalyst and a 2.5&#34; top layer of silicon carbide. The organic product is recovered and analyzed by infrared spectroscopy and vapor phase chromatography and the results are recorded in Table II. 
     
                                           TABLE II                                
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                 Product Constituency, mole %                             
Sample                                                                    
    Reaction                          ar-(t-butyl)-                       
Run Temperature, ar-(t-butyl)-                                            
                       ar-(t-butyl)-                                      
                               ar-(t-butyl)-                              
α-methyl-                                                           
No. ° C.                                                           
           Catalyst                                                       
                 styrene                                                  
ethyl benzene                                                             
    acetophenone                                                          
           benzyl alcohol                                                 
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1   250°                                                           
           Silica Gel                                                     
                 92.1  0.5     4.4    3.0                                 
2   300°                                                           
           Silica Gel                                                     
                 95.3  0.3     4.5    --                                  
3   350°                                                           
           Silica Gel                                                     
                 95.9  0.3     3.9    --                                  
4   400°                                                           
           Silica Gel                                                     
                 97.2  0.2     2.6    --                                  
5   450°                                                           
           Silica Gel                                                     
                 95.3  0.2     4.5    --                                  
6   500°                                                           
           Silica Gel                                                     
                 94.2  0.5     5.3    --                                  
C.sub.4 *                                                                 
    250°                                                           
           Anhydrous                                                      
           Titania                                                        
                 97.3  0.4     2.3    --                                  
C.sub.5 *                                                                 
    300°                                                           
           Anhydrous                                                      
           Titania                                                        
                 97.2  0.6     2.2    --                                  
C.sub.6 *                                                                 
    350°                                                           
           Anhydrous                                                      
           Titania                                                        
                 94.1  1.9     4.0    --                                  
C.sub.7 *                                                                 
    400°                                                           
           Anhydrous                                                      
           Titania                                                        
                 91.9  5.4     2.7    --                                  
C.sub.8 *                                                                 
    450°                                                           
           Anhydrous                                                      
           Titania                                                        
                 83.5  12.3    3.3    --                                  
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 *Not an example of the Invention                                         
 
    
     As evidenced by Table II, significantly larger quantities of ar-(t-butyl)-ethyl benzene are generally produced in dehydrations employing titania as catalyst than those employing silica gel under essentially the same conditions. The ar-(t-butyl)-ethyl benzene is difficult to separate from ar-(t-butyl)styrene whereas ar-(t-butyl)-acetophenone is separated from either of the above by simple distillation. 
     EXAMPLE 5 
     A solution of 50 parts of ar-(t-butyl)-α-methyl-benzyl alcohol containing ˜7 mole percent of ar-(t-butyl)-acetophenone in 50 parts of toluene is mixed with superheated steam (550° C.) in a ratio of 2 parts of water to one part of the mixture. The steam-alcohol mixture is passed downward through a glass column (1&#34; OD × 21&#34; length) containing a 10&#34; upper layer of silicon carbide and a 10&#34; lower layer of silica gel (same as in Example 2). The temperature at the top of the column is 350° C. and at the bottom of the column is 325° C. The water and organic product is distilled and dried, and its constituency is determined by infrared spectroscopy and vapor phase chromatography. The results are shown in Table III. 
     For the purposes of comparison a control run (C 9 ) is carried out by following the above process except that alumina (4-8 mesh and 210 m 2  g of surface area/gram) is substituted for silica gel as dehydration catalyst. The organic product is distilled and dried and its constituency is determined by the means described above. The results are also recorded in Table III. 
     
                                           TABLE III                               
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         Product Constituency, mole percent                               
Sample                      ar-(t-butyl)toluene                           
                                      ar-(t-butyl)acetophenone            
Run      p-(t-butyl)-                                                     
               m-(t-butyl)-                                               
                     ar-(t-butyl)                                         
                            and       ar-(t-butyl)-α-methyl-        
No. Catalyst                                                              
         styrene                                                          
               styrene                                                    
                     ethylbenzene                                         
                            ar-(t-butyl)benzene                           
                                      benzyl alcohol, ppm                 
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1   Silica                                                                
         96.09 3.77  0.10   0.04      &lt;25 ppm                             
    Gel                                                                   
C.sub.9 *                                                                 
    Alumina                                                               
         96.52 2.32  1.08   0.08      ˜45 ppm                       
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 *Not an example of the Invention                                         
 
    
     EXAMPLE 6 
     The dehydration process of the present invention is carried out in a continuous manner by continuously feeding molten ar-(t-butyl)-α-methylbenzyl alcohol at 200 lb/hr and water superheated to 550° C. at 400 lb/hr into a column (18&#34; OD × 6&#39;8&#34; length). The column contains a 3&#39;4&#34; upper bed of metallic heat transfer material preheated to 350° C. and a 3&#39;4&#34; lower bed of silica gel (same as in Example 2). The temperature at the lower end of the column is 325° C. The dehydrated organic product is continuously collected at the lower end of the column and then recovered at 99 +  percent purity by simple distillation. The dehydrated product is determined by infrared spectroscopy to be ar-(t-butyl)styrene. 
     EXAMPLE 7 
     Several samples of ar-chloro-α-methylbenzyl alcohol containing small amounts of ar-chloro-acetophenone are continuously dehydrated by mixing the liquid alcohol with varying amounts of superheated steam (550° C.) and passed as vapor phase through the column described in Example 3. Dehydration temperatures for the various runs are also varied. The amounts of low boiling components are shown in Table IV. 
     For the purposes of comparison, similar samples of ar-chloro-α-methylstyrene also containing small amounts of ar-chloro-acetophenone are continuously dehydrated in the same manner except that no water is added during the process. The amounts of low boiling components for these control runs (C 10 , C 11 , C 12 ) are also shown in Table IV. 
     
                                           TABLE IV                                
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                      Low Boiling Components                              
                      of Reaction Mixture,                                
                      parts (1)         Low Boiling Impurities/           
Sample                                                                    
     Water/Alcohol,                                                       
             Reaction ar-chloro-                                          
                            ar-chloro-  ar-chlorostyrene,                 
Run No.                                                                   
     ml/100 ml                                                            
             Temperature, ° C.                                     
                      styrene                                             
ethylbenzene                                                              
     other   parts/100 parts                                              
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1    3       400      62.89 1.10   0.22 ˜2.1                        
2    5       400      76.19 0.88   0.19 ˜1.4                        
C*.sub.10                                                                 
     0       400      55.80 1.88   0.45 ˜4.2                        
3    25      350      73.91 0.16   0.09 ˜0.34                       
C*.sub.11                                                                 
     0       350      58.90 0.89   0.27 ˜1.80                       
5    50      400      78.11 0.03   ND** ˜0.04                       
C*.sub.12                                                                 
     0       400      63.64 1.61   0.45 ˜3.25                       
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  *Not an example of the invention                                        
 **None Detected                                                          
 (1)Higher Boiling components including chloroacetophenone and            
 ar-chloro-α-methylbenzyl alcohol comprise the remaining reaction   
 mixture having a total of 100 parts.                                     
 
    
     EXAMPLES 8-13 
     In accordance with the continuous dehydration process of Example 3, several substituted α-methylbenzyl alcohols are dehydrated to the corresponding substituted styrenes thereof. The results obtained are comparable to those obtained in Example 3. The alcohols successfully dehydrated are as follows: 
     ar-t-butyl-α,α-dimethylbenzyl alcohol 
     ar-dichloro-α-methylbenzyl alcohol 
     ar-dibromo-α-methylbenzyl alcohol 
     ar-di-t-butyl-α-methylbenzyl alcohol 
     ar-(1-ethyl-1-methylpentyl)-α-methylbenzyl alcohol 
     ar-t-butyl-ar-methyl-α-methylbenzyl alcohol. 
     Several dehydration runs are also carried out using silica gel catalysts having different mesh sizes in the range from about 2 to about 400 and surface areas in the range from about 300 to about 900 m 2  /g with good results.