Process for production of mono- or di-ortho-methyl-substituted phenols by catalytic methylation and catalyst therefor

摘要

In a process for producing a mono- or di-ortho-methyl-substituted phenol which comprises methylating a phenol having one or two ortho-hydrogens with methanol in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst comprising 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), the improvement wherein said metal other than iron in component (B) is a metal selected from the group consisting of Ga, Ge, Y, Nb, Hf, Bi and Ta; and a catalyst used therefor.