Verfahren zum m-Alkylieren von Phenolen

摘要

A process for the meta-alkylation of a phenol comprises reacting the phenol in a single stage with an alkylating agent in the presence of a catalyst comprising an activated bleaching earth and an inorganic acid, the reaction being carried out at an elevated temperature such that alkylation occurs in the meta position with the production of an alkylated product containing not less than 50% of the meta isomer. Specified bleaching earths are fullers earth and montmorillonite which may be impregnated with H2SO4 or H3PO4. Examples describe the preparation of meta- and paratert. and sec. butyl phenol from phenol and isobutylene or isobutanol and sec. butanol, meta- and para-isopropyl phenol using isopropanol in lieu of isobutanol, and meta- and paracyclohexylphenol using cyclohexene in lieu of isobutylene.