Alkylation of phenol with methanol over mixed oxides of tin with some rareearth elements

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