Oxidative methylation of toluene with methane catalyzed by lithium modified molecular sieves

Lithium modified molecular sieves with different structures (X, Y, ZSM-5 and AlPO₄-5) were studied as catalysts for oxidative methylation of toluene with methane. LiX zeolite was the most active catalyst for attaining best yields of ethylbenzene and styrene. The effects of basicity, crystallinity and type of structure were examined.