Trivalent-iron-substituted mesoporous molecular sieve catalysts (FeMCM-41)
were synthesized hydrothermally and characterized systematically by various
analytical and spectroscopic techniques. Temperature-programmed desorption
studies of ammonia of the protonated catalyst (H-FeMCM-41) indicate a broa
d distribution of the acid sites. Vapour-phase alkylation of phenol with t-
butyl alcohol (2-methyl-2-propanol) was carried out over this solid acid ca
talyst and p-t-butyl phenol was obtained as the major product with high sel
ectivity.