Catalytic performance of Preyssler heteropolyacid, [NaP5W30O110]14− in liquid phase alkylation of phenol with 1-octene

Under mild conditions a liquid phase alkylation of phenol with 1-octene was studied in the presence of Preyssler catalyst, H14[NaP5W30O110]. This polyanion with high hydrolytic stability (pH 0–12), thermal stability and high acidic strength shows great activity. The effects of various parameters on the yield of product, including catalyst type, reactant molar ratio, solvent type and reaction time were studied. Comparison between Keggin type heteropolyacids, H5[PMo10V2O40], H6[PMo9V3O40] and Wells–Dawson, H6[P2W18O62] with Preyssler’s anion shows that the latter reacts better than the other studied heteropolyacids and without any degradation of the structure.