Claims
- 1. A catalytic ortho-alkylation process which comprises reacting a phenolic compound of the formula: ##STR3## where each R is a monovalent substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, phenyl and alkyl-substituted phenyl with an alcohol selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-6 alkyl alcohols at a temperature from about 300.degree. C. to the decomposition temperature of the reactants or catalyst in the presence of a catalyst composite consisting essentially of a calcination residue derived at said reaction temperatures from an admixture of magnesium carbonate and/or magnesium hydroxide and a manganese compound wherein said admixture is formed by precipitating said manganese compound in the presence of magnesium carbonate and/or magnesium hydroxide.
- 2. The claim 1 process wherein the catalyst is formed from an admixture of manganese hydroxide co-precipitated with magnesium carbonate from an aqueous slurry.
- 3. The claim 2 process wherein the magnesium carbonate is basic magnesium carbonate.
- 4. The claim 3 process wherein the basic magnesium carbonate has the formula xMgCO.sub.3.Mg(OH).sub.2.xH.sub.2 O wherein independently each x is a number average of from about 3 to about 5.
- 5. The claim 1 process wherein the catalyst is formed from an admixture of manganese hydroxide co-precipitated with magnesium hydroxide from an aqueous slurry.
- 6. The claim 1 process wherein the catalyst is formed from an admixture of magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, and manganese hydroxide co-precipitated from an aqueous slurry.
- 7. The claim 1 process wherein the reaction pressure is between about 0.5 and about 5 atmospheres.
- 8. The claim 1 process wherein the reaction temperature is between about 350.degree. C. to 500.degree. C.
- 9. A catalytic ortho-alkylation process which comprises reacting a mixture containing phenol and orthocresol with methanol at a temperature of from 350.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst composite consisting essentially of a calcination residue derived from heating at a temperature of at least 300.degree. C. in an inert nitrogen atmosphere an admixture of manganese hydroxide coprecipitated with basic magnesium carbonate having the formula xMgCO.sub.3.Mg(OH).sub.2.xH.sub.2 O wherein independently each x is a number average of from about 3 to about 5, from an aqueous slurry, wherein the catalyst before heating contains up to about 20 weight percent of a polyphenylene oxide resin.
- 10. The claim 9 process wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of water.
- 11. The claim 10 process wherein the catalyst precursor is substantially free of deleterious water-soluble cations or anions.
- 12. The claim 9 process wherein the reaction pressure is between about 0.5 and about 5 atmospheres.
- 13. The claim 9 process wherein the reaction products comprise at least about 65 percent 2,6-xylenol, and less than about 4 percent 2,4,6-mesitol by weight.
- 14. The claim 9 process wherein the reaction products comprise at least 70 percent 2,6-xylenol, and less than about 4 percent 2,4,6-mesitol by weight.
- 15. The claim 1 process wherein the admixture contains up to 20 percent by weight of a polyphenylene oxide resin before heating.
- 16. The claim 1 process wherein the catalyst is formed from an admixture of magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide, and manganese hydroxide co-precipitated from an aqueous slurry.
- 17. The claim 1 process wherein the admixture contains a water-soluble synthetic resin shaping aid.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 163,486, filed June 27, 1980 now abandoned. This invention relates to an improved catalytic process for the preparation of ortho-alkylated phenols which comprises reacting a phenolic compound with an alcohol, optionally in the presence of water, and a catalyst composite consisting essentially of the calcination residue obtained from an admixture of magnesium carbonate and/or magnesium hydroxide and a manganese compound.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2127083 |
Dec 1971 |
DEX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
163486 |
Jun 1980 |
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