Alkylation of Toluene with Methanol (I)

Alkylation by Various Solid Acid Catalysts

Abstract

The alkylation of toluene with methanol on the various solid acid catalysts was studied by the flow method under atmospheric pressure and in the temperature range from 300 to 400°C.
The following results were obtained.
(1) The course of this reaction (I) was examined in the comparison with the disproportionation of toluene (II), the alkylation of benzene with methanol (III) and the alkylation of toluene with ethanol (IV) under the same reaction condition. The rates of these reactions varied in order of (I)>(III)>>(II), and in the case of the reaction (IV), ethyl toluene was main product. This result reveals that this alkylation process does not proceeds via the disproportionation of toluene.
(2) By addition of 12.5wt% of various metal sulfates, the catalytic activity of SiO₂-Al₂O₃ was promoted in order of Ni<Cu<Co<Al<<Zn, but by addition of chromium (III) sulfate, zinc phosphate or copper (II) phosphate, the activity decreased.
(3) Under the hydrogen pressure, 10kg/cm², this reaction was accelerated, but byproducts such as benzene and mesitylene increased.