Hydroxyethylation of aralkyl alcohols (benzyl alcohol, 2-phenylethanol
, 3-phenylpropanol) in the presence of a clay catalyst (K10) was succe
ssful. This method has some advantages in contrast with the convention
al ones: effective, works at mild reaction conditions, easy the separa
tion of catalyst from the reaction mixture. (C) 1997, Elsevier Science
Ltd.