Hydrothermally synthesized silicalite-I, [Al]-ZSM-5 and borosilicates with the MFI structure were subjected to several characterization techniques (SEM, IR, BET, XRD, NMR, ICP and ion exchange measurements). It was confirmed that boron had entered the framework in the boron samples. In the protonated form the borosilicate catalyzed the alkylation of toluene by methanol and also the dehydration of methanol to hydrocarbons, though it was much less active than H-[Al]-ZSM-5 and showed markedly different selectivities. It was observed that whereas 98-99% of the methanol was converted to C-2+ hydrocarbons over H-[Al]-ZSM-5 the corresponding conversion over H-[B]-ZSM-5 was less than 0.2%.