Hydroalkylation using nickel-ruthenium catalyst on zeolite type support

A process for the hydroalkylation of an aromatic compound which comprises subjecting it to hydroalkylation conditions in the presence of a catalyst comprising an acidic crystalline zeolite type support having a substantial proportion of crystalline zeolitic component therein, said support having been prepared by removing alkali metal or aklaline earth metal ions by cation exchange treatment with an ammonium compound followed by calcination to convert ammonium ions to protonic acid sites, said support having thereon ruthenium and nickel, the nickel being supplied by nickel chloride to a predominantly alkali metal cation exchanged aluminosilicate support when the alkali metal to aluminum ratio is in the approximate range 0/1 to 0.182/1 and to a predominantly alkaline earth metal cation exchanged aluminosilicate support when the alkaline earth metal to aluminum ratio is in the approximate range 0/1 to 0.091/1;

• and by nickel bromide when the support is predominantly a cation exchanged alkali metal or alkaline earth metal support and said ratios are respectively 0.182/1 to 0.4/1 and 0.091/1 to 0.2/1;
• and wherein ruthenium is added to the support after the calcination.