Zirconia-modified superacid UDCaT-5: an efficient and versatile catalyst for alkylation reactions under solvent-free conditions

Abstract

UDCaT-5, a modified version of zirconia, efficiently catalyzes alkylation of phenols with alcohols under environmentally safe, heterogeneous reaction conditions with high selectivity and in excellent yields. The high content present in UDCaT-5 with preservation of tetragonal phase of zirconia was responsible for the superactivity. Several phenolic compounds carrying either electron-sulfer releasing or electron-withdrawing substituents in the ortho, meta, and para positions afforded high yields of the products.