Prepn of 2,4,6-trimethylpheno from a substd phenol and methanol - in vapour phase using a catalyst contg magnesium oxide to methylate the phenol

摘要

The phenol of formula (I): (where R1 and R2 are each H or CH3) and the methanol are reacted at 400-500 degrees C and are contacted with the catalyst at a rate 0.4/hr. (sum of wt. in gms. of phenol and MeOH/wt. is gms. of catalyst/hr) pref. rate being 0.1-0.2/hr. The one-step method gives high yield.