Xylenols Friedel-Crafts reaction

The formation of cresols (and xylenols) by Friedel-Crafts type alkylation in the reaction of phenol with methanol at 300-450°C over a solid catalyst usually a modified metal oxide is an important and well established synthetic route (ref.22) and typically can result in predominantly o/p substitution (o-cresol,54%, p-cresol,30%, and m-cresol, 17%). Selectivity can be achieved with a magnesium oxide or metal oxide-iron oxide mixture to afford o-cresol and... 

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