H. Grabowska et al., ORTHO-SELECTIVE PHENOL METHYLATION OVER IRON-MAGNESIUM OXIDE CATALYSTS, Research of chemical intermediates, 22(1), 1996, pp. 53-60
Alkylation of phenol to ORTHO-cresol and 2,6-xylenol with methanol in
the presence of iron and iron-magnesium oxide catalysts was investigat
ed. The catalysts displayed high activity and stability. Addition of m
agnesium oxide to the iron catalyst increases its selectivity towards
C-alkylation in ortho-position. It was found that the active phase in
the investigated catalysts is highly dispersed magnetite or mixed spin
el of Fe(MgFe)O-4 type. It is noticed that if Fe+2 ions are replaced b
y Mg+2 ions in the spinel the basicity of the bifunctional catalyst is
augmented, increasing ortho-selectivity of alkylation.