The most important commercial reaction of Ethylbenzene is its dehydrogenation to styrene. The reaction is carried out at high temperature (600-6600C). Usually over an iron oxide catalyst. Steam is used as diluents. Commercially, selectivity’s to styrene range from 89 to 96% with per-pass conversions of 65-70%. Side reactions involve mainly the dealkylation of Ethylbenzene to benzene and toluene. Another reaction of commercial
importance is the oxidation of Ethylbenzene by air to the hydro peroxide, C6H5CH(OOH)CH3.The reaction takes place in the liquid phase, with no catalyst required. However, because hydro peroxides are unstable compounds, exposure to high temperature must be minimized to reduce the rate of decomposition. The production by products is reduced if the temperature is gradually lowered during the course of the reaction. The hydro peroxide is subsequently reacted with propene in a process that yields styrene and propylene oxide as co products.
With suitable catalyst, Ethylbenzene can be converted to xylenes. Commercially processes
for isomerising xylenes usually involve the catalytic isomerisation or dealkylkylation of
Ethylbenzene. Like toluene, Ethylbenzene may be dealkylated catalytically or thermally to benzene. Ehtylbenzene also undergoes other reaction typical of alkyl aromatic compounds.[9]