Effectiveness of various catalysts in alkylating phenol with isobutene

Summary

• 1. A number of catalysts have been investigated in the phenol—isobutene alkylation reaction under comparable conditions, these catalysts including BF₃, H₃PO₄· BF₃, AlCl₃, H₂SO₄, and AlCl₂ · HSO₄; it was shown that boron fluoride, taken in 0.8–1% quantity, is the most active catalyst and gives the highest yield of p-tert-butylphenol.

• 2. An investigation has been made of the effect of various factors on alkylate yield and composition in phenol isobutene alkylation with boron fluoride. The yield of p-tert-butylphenol reaches 78–88% of the theoretical.