ALKYLATION OF PHENOL WITH METHANOL OVER ALPO AND SAPO MOLECULAR-SIEVES

This is the first preliminary report on alkylation of phenol with methanol over SAPO-5, SAPO-11 and SAPO-34 as well as over AlPO-5 molecular sieves at various temperatures. It has been established that on SAPO-5 only anisole, whereas on other molecular sieves cresols and anisole are simultaneously produced. On SAPO-34 and AlPO-5 formation of other cracking products were also observed. The selectivities generally determined by Broensted acidity of the molecular sieves, are also affected by other factors such as pore size and geometry. In the case of the AlPO-5 having initially high alkylation activity, a different mechanism is likely operative. © 1990 J.C. Baltzer A.G. Scientific Publishing Company.