Catalyst and process for producing ortho-methyl substituted phenols using it.

摘要

The invention relates to a catalyst for use in producing a mono- or di-ortho-methyl-substituted phenol by the catalytic methylation of a phenol having one or two ortho-hydrogens with methanol. Known catalysts comprise a major proportion of an oxide of iron as a first component (A) and a minor proportion of at least one oxide of metal other than iron as a second component (B). When, in accordance with the invention, the metal other than iron in component (B) is a metal selected from Ga, Ge, Y, Nb, Hf, Bi and Ta the catalyst is highly active, shows good selectivity to ortho-methylation and 2,6-methylation, and decomposes methanol to a lesser extent than known catalysts.