Preparation of 2,6-xylenol and catalyst composition useful therefor

A process for preparing 2,6-xylenol in high selectivity wherein the process comprises reacting phenol, o-cresol or mixtures thereof with methanol in the presence of water using a catalyst consisting essentially of the following materials in percent by weight:

• Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 --about 90 to about 97;
• SnO.sub.2 --about 0.5 to about 5;
• Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 --about 0.5 to about 5;
• K.sub.2 O--about 0.01 to about 1, said process being characterized further in that:
• (a) prior to use the catalyst has been treated with hydrogen at a temperature of 300.degree. to 500.degree. C. at a flow rate of 2 to 6 volumes of hydrogen per minute per volume of reactor for 2 to 12 hours;
• (b) there is present about 1 to 10 moles of methanol per mole of phenol and/or o-cresol;
• (c) the amount of water is about 5 to about 15 weight percent, based on the total amount of phenol, o-cresol and methanol;
• (d) the amount of catalyst expressed as LHSV is about 0.1 to about 5;
• (e) the temperature is in the range of about 380.degree. to about 420.degree. C.;
• (f) the pressure is from atmospheric to 1,000 psig;
• and
• (g) the product mixture contains at least 99 weight percent o-cresol and 2,6-xylenol.