Heterogeneous basic catalysts as alternatives to homogeneous catalysts: reactivity of Mg/Al mixed oxides in the alkylation of m-cresol with methanol

Mg/Al mixed oxides, obtained by decomposition of hydrotalcite-like precursors, represent interesting heterogeneous catalytic systems for basic-catalyzed reactions, as an alternative to environmentally unfriendly homogeneous catalysts. The reactivity of these oxides was evaluated using the methylation of m-cresol as a test reaction and relationships between catalytic performance and chemical–physical features were established. The basicity of the samples was evaluated by CO₂ adsorption and thermal-programmed-desorption. The presence of Al in the mixed oxides considerably affected the density and the strength of the basic sites with respect to MgO. These basic properties in turn influenced the catalytic performance of the materials. Under the reaction conditions used in the present work, medium strength basic sites played the major role in the reaction.