A process for selectively producing para-xylene from a feedstock enriched in
C8
isoalkanes and/or isoalkenes is disclosed. The feed is contacted with Group VIII
metal loaded molecular sieve catalyst of low acidity under dehydrocyclization conditions
wherein the molecular sieve has a channel size ranging from about 5-8 Angstroms
and a 10 to 12 membered ring structure containing at least two elements selected
from the group consisting of Si, Al, P, Ge, Ga and Ti.