A study on the alkylation of m-cresol with 1-decene over mesoporous silica supported tungstophosphoric acid (HPW)

Linear alkylcresols were synthesized in high yield by the alkylation of m-cresols with 1-decene in the presence of 25%HPW/SBA-15 catalyst. The physicochemical properties of the catalyst were investigated by means of N-2 adsorption/desorption measurements (textural properties: surface area, pore volume and average pore diameter) and thermal desorption of diethyl-amine (acidity and the acid strength distribution). HPW-loaded acid as well as the SBA-15 support displayed a mesoporous structure. The effects of the reaction time and the catalyst amount on the reaction were studied. The main monitored parameters were the conversion of m-cresol, yield of decylcresol isomers (ortho- and para-) and yield of polyakylated cresol. The results indicates that 25%HPW/SBA-15 catalyst has high catalytic activity, with the m-cresol conversion of 93.8% , at 160 degrees C with a reaction time of 150 min and a catalyst loading of 0.5 wt% m-Cresol was alkylated preferably in the para-position, the yield of 4-(decan-2yl)-3-methylphenol, after 150 min reaction time was 54.5%.