Process for the preparation of p-ethylphenol

摘要

A very simple process for preparing p-ethylphenol is disclosed. It is only necessary to contact phenol with an ethylating agent in vapor phase in the presence of a specific catalyst. The catalyst can be obtained by incorporating one or more alkoxysilanes to a crystalline aluminosilicte with a constraint index of 1-15 having a silica/alumina molar ratio of 20- 400, wherein the amount of said alkoxysilanes to be incorporated is not less than 1.4 wt % calculated as silicon based on the amount of said crystalline aluminosilicate. Because the specific catalyst has the narrowed or restricted entrances of the micro pores of the crystalline aluminosilicate by the alkoxysilane treatment, it is possible to prepare p-ethylphenol in a high selectivity. The product contains only a very small amount of m-ethylphenol. The p-ethylphenol product obtained by the process of the present invention can be employed directly as raw materials for practical uses such as synthetic resins and antioxidants without m-ethylphenol elimination procedure.