Interaction of phenol with cyclo-olefins in the presence of a catalyst containing zeolite

The reaction of phenol with methanol was carried out over five X-, six Y- and three ZSM-zeolites, in a fixed-bed continuous reactor at 250°C. Alkylation products were cresols (o>p>m), anisole, xylenols and methylanisoles. The highest conversion and the highest yields of o- and p-cresols were obtained within the initial 5 h on-stream. Selectivity to o,p-cresols in the range 40-50% at phenol conversion 40-50% was reached on some X- and Y-zeolites, the best catalyst being HY.