Continuous alkylation of 5-methoxy-1-naphthol and 4-methyl-1-naphthol with alcohols over an iron catalyst Original Research Article

The vapour phase alkylation of 5-methoxy-1-naphthol and 4-methyl-1-naphthol with alcohols in the presence of an iron catalysts (magnetite) that contained Cr-, Si- and K oxides was investigated. At temperatures of 580–655 K alkylderivatives with high yield in ortho-position to the hydroxyl group were obtained. The reactions were carried out in an continuous process at atmospheric pressure.