The catalytic activities of commercial niobic acid, niobium pentoxide
prepared in laboratory and niobic acid treated with phosphoric acid, w
ere evaluated in the benzylation of toluene and anisole with benzyl al
cohol, in liquid phase. The best results were achieved with niobic aci
d treated with phosphoric acid (pretreatment at 423 K), the conversion
of benzyl alcohol was 99.2% with anisole and the main product was the
benzylation product. The acidity of these solids has been determined
by infrared spectrometry using pyridine as a probe molecule. The ratio
of Lewis acidity/Bronsted acidity was higher for niobic acid treated
with phosphoric acid.