Alkylation of phenol with methanol over mixed oxides of tin with some rare earth elements

Alkylation of phenol with methanol has been carried out over Sn-La and Sn-Sm mixed oxides of varying compositions at 623 K in a vapour phase flow reactor. It is found that the product selectivity is greatly influenced by the acid-base properties of the catalysts. Ortho-cresol formation is favoured over catalysts with weak acid sites whereas formation of 2,6-xylenol occurs in the presence of stronger acid sites. The cyclohexanol decomposition reaction and titrimetric method using Hammett indicators have been employed to elucidate the acid-base properties of the catalysts.