Alkylation of benzene with alkene and/or chloroethane in Lewis acid-typeionic liquid catalysts, MEIC+AlCl₃, MBIC+AlCl₃, BPC+AlCl₃ and TMHC+AlCl₃, which in situ were prepared by the reaction of 1-methyl-3-ethylinidazole chloride (MEIC), 1-methyl-3-butylinidazole chloride (MBIC), 1-butylpyridium chloride(BPC) and trimethylamine hydrochloride (TMHC) with AlCl₃, respectively, at room temperature has been investigated. The experimental result shows that the ionic liquid catalysts have higher catalytic activitythan that of peer AlCl₃. The conversion can reach 100% in shorter time and the selectivity of TMHC-AlCl₃ for monoalkylation of benzene can get 98.6%. Inaddition, the products are easily separated and the ionic liquid catalysts can be reused in the reaction.

Key words: ionic liquid, catalyst, alkylation