Synthesis of Alkyl Aromatic Compounds, AACs: Forecasting Emerging Technology through Patent Analysis

Alkyl Aromatic Compounds (AACs) have widespread use such as monomers for advanced polymer materials, thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers, intermediates for dyestuffs, pharmaceuticals, antiseptics, solvents for carbonless copy paper, high-performance synthetic lubri- cating fluids, agrochemical formulations, and so on. Patent analysis is a unique tool to forecast technological trends and plan for potential competition based on new technologies. The authors intent in this research was to explore the technologies and techniques employed for production of Alkyl Aromatic Compounds with a special focus on 2, 6-Dimethyl Naphthalene (2, 6-DMN). The tech- niques have been explored with the help of patent analysis. Patent analysis is an extremely versatile tool, with many implications for business-strategic planning, mergers, acquisitions, licensing oppor- tunities, R & D management, human resources, competitive intelligence, business intelligence etc. This research includes both qualitative and quantitative analysis of patents on 2, 6-DMN based on TRIZ methodology. Quantitative analysis is done for the bibliographic information including the top assignees, top inventors, top IPC classification, patents per assignee etc. Qualitative analysis includes the technology/function matrix for the top technologies for 2, 6-DMN adopting the 'technology for inventive problem solving' method abbreviated as 'TRIZ'. The problem to be solved by the invention is equivalent to 'function' and 'means for solving the problems' is equivalent to 'technology'.