Selective alkylation of phenol with tert-butyl alcohol catalyzed by [bmim]PF6

Alkylation of phenol with tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) in a room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazoliumhexafluorophosphate ([bmim]PF6), has been investigated. The effects of various parameters such as reaction temperature, reaction time, reactant ratio (mol ratio of phenol to that of TBA), and the amount of the ionic liquid used were studied. The [bmim]PF6 ionic liquid was found to catalyze the reaction with high conversion and good selectivity.