Montmorillonite K10 was modified with pillaring solutions of Fe, Al and Zr (K10-MPLS). The catalysts were activated at 120 and 550degreesC. The resultant catalysts were used for the Friedel-Crafts benzylation of benzene with benzyl chloride under mild experimental conditions. Amongst them, K10-FePLS120 catalyst showed both high activity and selectivity for the benzylation reaction at room temperature (28degreesC). The catalyst can also be reused in the benzylation for several times. The activities of these catalysts were compared with those of Fe3+-, Al3+- and Zr4+-exchanged montmorillonite K10 and Fe-, Al- and Zr-pillared bentonite catalysts. The benzylation of various monosubstituted benzenes was carried out using K10-FePLS120. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.