Claims
- 1. In a process for preparing an ortho-alkylated phenolic compound by reacting, in the vapor phase, an alkyl alcohol and a phenolic compound in the presence of an ortho-alkylation catalyst, the improvement comprising using as the catalyst the calcined product derived by heating, at a temperature from about 350.degree. C. to about 440.degree. C., a mixture which comprises
- (i) magnesium oxide or a compound that is thermally decomposable to magnesium oxide; and
- (ii) a substantially water-insoluble zinc compound.
- 2. A process according to claim 1, in which component (i) is one or more magnesium-containing compounds selected from the group consisting of magnesium carbonate, basic magnesium carbonate, magnesium hydroxide and magnesium oxide.
- 3. A process according to claim 1, in which the zinc compound for the catalyst is zinc oxide.
- 4. A process according to claim 1, in which the phenolic compound has the formula ##STR2## in which R is independently a monovalent substituent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 to C.sub.12 alkyl,-substituted phenyl.
- 5. A process according to claim 4, in which the alkyl alcohol is branched or linear saturated alcohol having up to 16 carbon atoms.
- 6. A process according to claim 4, which is conducted at a temperature of at least 350.degree. C.
- 7. A process according to claim 4, which is conducted at a temperature of about 350 to about 500.degree. C.
- 8. A process according to claim 4, in which the co-reactants are methanol, phenol and ortho-cresol.
- 9. A process according to claim 8, in which the initial reaction mixture comprises about two to about six moles of methanol for each mole of phenol and ortho-cresol combined.
- 10. A process according to claim 4, in which the catalyst has a surface area of at least 25 square meters per gram.
- 11. A process according to claim 4, in which the catalyst has a surface area of 25 to 450 square meters per gram.
- 12. In a process for preparing an ortho-alkylated phenolic compound by reacting, in the vapor phase, an alkyl alcohol and phenolic compound in the presence of an ortho-alkylation catalyst, the improvement comprising using as the catalyst the calcined product derived by heating at a temperature from about 350.degree. C. to 440.degree. C. a mixture consisting essentially of (i) magnesium oxide or a compound that is thermally decomposable to magnesium oxide and (ii) up to about 20% by weight of a substantially water insoluble zinc compound.
Parent Case Info
This is a divisional of application on Ser. No. 126,555, filed Nov. 30, 1987 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,475, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 640,080, filed on Aug. 13, 1984 and now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
126555 |
Nov 1987 |
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Continuations (1)
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640080 |
Aug 1984 |
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