A niobium-modified mordenite catalyst can be made from water soluble niobium precursors such as niobium oxalate and ammonium niobate(V) oxalate and can be used in toluene disproportionation reactions. Embodiments can provide a toluene conversion of at least 30 wt% of the toluene feed with selectivity to benzene above 40 wt% of the reaction product composition and to xylenes above 40 wt% of the reaction product composition and non-aromatics selectivity of less than 1.0 wt% of the reaction product composition.
