AlPO4?Al2O3 catalysts with low alumina content, VII. Anisole conversion in the presence of methanol

The conversion of anisole in the presence of methanol (anisole/methanol molar ratio=4) over AlPO₄–Al₂O₃ (5–15 wt.% Al₂O₃) catalysts gave a mixture of dealkylated and C-alkylated products (C-alkylation preferentially inortho-position) in which dealkylation to phenol always predominated. The catalytic activity, which increased with alumina content and decreased on increasing the calcination temperature from 773 to 1073 K, was fairly well related to the change in surface acidic characteristics. Furthermore, anisole conversion followed the requirements of the Bassett-Habgood kinetic treatment for first order processes, with a single common interaction mechanism and, consequently, a common transition state for all catalysts. Poisoning by pyridine and 2,6-dimethylpyridine confirmed that anisole conversion occurs on acid sites.