Reaction Kinetics and Catalysis Letters, Vol.69, No.2, 339-343, 2000
Alkylation of phenol with methanol over rare earth promoted sulfated tin oxide catalyst
A comparative account of the tin-samarium binary oxide and its sulfate modified analogue (SO42-/SnO2-Sm2O3) in the alkylation of phenol with methanol is reported. Sulfate modification resulted in a large variation in product selectivity and reaction pathway due to the creation of strong acid sites, which alters the nature of adsorption of phenol on the catalyst surface.