a. providing a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising at least 50 wt. % isobutane and less than 10 wt. % hydrocarbons that contain from one to three carbon atoms or at least seven carbon atoms;

b. contacting the hydrocarbon feed stream with a first catalyst comprising a zeolite at conditions comprising a first temperature and a first pressure that facilitate conversion of at least a portion of the first fraction by the first catalyst to produce a first effluent comprising olefins containing from two to five carbon atoms and monocyclic aromatics;

c. contacting the first effluent with a second catalyst comprising a zeolite at conditions comprising a second temperature and second pressure that facilitate conversion of the first effluent by the second catalyst to produce a second effluent comprising monocyclic aromatics and olefins containing from two to five carbon atoms at a molar ratio that is in the range from 0.75 to 1.25, wherein the second catalyst has a distinct chemical composition from the first catalyst; wherein the second temperature is at least 50° C. lower than the first temperature;

d. compressing the second effluent to pressure of at least 50 psig to produce a compressed second effluent and contacting the compressed second effluent with an alkylation catalyst at a third temperature that facilitates alkylation of at least a portion of the aromatics in the compressed second effluent with at least a portion of the olefins present in the compressed second effluent by the alkylation catalyst to produce an alkylation effluent comprising an increased quantity of mono-alkylated aromatics containing eight or nine carbon atoms relative to the quantity of mono-alkylated aromatics containing eight or nine carbon atoms in the second effluent, wherein the alkylation effluent comprises at least 50 wt. % monoalkylated aromatics containing from 7 to 9 carbon atoms;

e. at least partially condensing the alkylation effluent to produce a heavy hydrocarbons fraction comprising hydrocarbons containing at least five carbon atoms and a light hydrocarbons fraction comprising hydrocarbons containing four or less carbon atoms and hydrogen;

f. separating a C5 fraction comprising pentanes from the heavy hydrocarbon fraction wherein the remainder comprises an aromatics product comprising mono-alkylated aromatics and residual benzene that meets specifications for a component of a liquid transportation fuel.