alkanes containing more atoms per molecule in the presence of a catalyst composition containing hydrogen fluoride titanium tetrafluoride and sulfolane application_number US 22422898 A description the feed to the process of this invention can be any hydrocarbon containing mixture that contains at least one pentane either n pentane or isopentane preferably isopentane 2 methylbutane or neopentane or mixtures thereof generally the feed contains more than about 50 weight pentane preferably about 60 99 99 weight pentane the feed can contain other hydrocarbons that do not interfere with the process of this invention i e minor amounts of other alkanes such as n butane isobutane n hexane and the like alkenes monoolefins other unsaturated compounds are to be substantially absent from the feed so that side reactions olefin oligomerization and or excessive aso be avoided the catalyst composition useful in the process of this invention employs tif 4 in combination with hf with a sulfone diluent present in an amount sufficient to enhance the effectiveness of the catalyst composition in the disproportionation of pentanes the ratio of the total catalyst composition tif 4 hf and the sulfone diluent to the hydrocarbon feed on a weight weight basis is in the range above about.