PRODUCTION OF O-ALKYLPHENOL

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain the title compound in high selectivity and conversion rate with catalytic activity maintained for a long time by reaction between a phenol bearing hydrogen atom at its o-site and a lower alcohol using a specifically treated manganese oxide catalyst. CONSTITUTION:The objective o-alkylphenol (e.g. o-cresol) can be obtained in high selectivity and conversion rate, with catalytic activity maintained for a long time, by reaction between (A) a phenol bearing hydrogen atom at its o-site (e.g. phenol) and (B) a lower alcohol (e.g. methanol) in the presence of a catalyst. This catalyst can be prepared by the following process: a manganese oxide (e.g. manganese dioxide), either after put to preliminary reaction or after brought into contact with a reductive substance (e.g. hydrogen) at 200-1500 deg.C, is brought into contact with an atmosphere containing >=1mol% of moisture at 50-300 deg.C.