Preparation of 2,6-xylenol and catalyst composition useful therefor

Claim 1

A process for preparing 2,6-xylenol in high selectivity wherein the process comprises reacting phenol, o-cresol or mixtures thereof with methanol in the presence of water using a catalyst consisting essentially of the following materials in percent by weight: Fe 2 O 3 --about 90 to about 97; SnO 2 --about 0.5 to about 5; Cr 2 O 3 --about 0.5 to about 5; K 2 O--about 0.01 to about 1, said process being characterized further in that: (a) prior to use the catalyst has been treated with hydrogen at a temperature of 300° to 500° C. at a flow rate of 2 to 6 volumes of hydrogen per minute per volume of reactor for 2 to 12 hours; (b) there is present about 1 to 10 moles of methanol per mole of phenol and/or o-cresol; (c) the amount of water is about 5 to about 15 weight percent, based on the total amount of phenol, o-cresol and methanol; (d) the amount of catalyst expressed as LHSV is about 0.1 to about 5; (e) the temperature is in the range of about 380° to about 420° C.; (f) the pressure is from atmospheric to 1,000 psig; and (g) the product mixture contains at least 99 weight percent o-cresol and 2,6-xylenol.