Montmorillonite KSF-catalysed regioselective trans-tert-butylation of tert-butylphenols

Disproportionation, isomerization and de-tert-butylation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol catalyzed by H-MCM-41

“…However, the alkylates can be made by other routes also. Bigi et al 8 reported that in the presence of montmorillonite KSF catalyst, an equimolecular mixture of phenol and 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol can be converted into 4-tert-butylphenol. This is quite interesting as the removal of a tert-butyl group from aromatic compounds requires an excess of AlCl 3 or similar hard Lewis acids.…”