Niobic acid and niobium phosphate were characterized by BET surface area, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), infrared (IR), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), and n-propylamine temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). Their catalytic activity was evaluated in the alkylation of anisole and toluene with 1-octen-3-ol. The reaction was processed in the liquid phase at 120degreesC for anisole and 110degreesC for toluene with an aromatic/alcohol molar ratio of 10. The influence of the pretreatment temperature (110, 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 degreesC) on the catalytic activity of commercial niobium phosphate for alkylation of anisole with allylic alcohol was studied. The best results were achieved when niobium phosphate was calcined at 400degreesC. The alcohol conversion was 100% for the reaction with anisole and 57% for toluene. The catalytic activity of niobium phosphate was greater than niobic acid for the reaction with anisole and the selectivity for monoalkylation products was > 80%. The activity and selectivity of the toluene reaction were lower. Two alkylation products (linear and branched) arising from an attack on the 1 or 3 position of the 1-octen-3-ol are observed for both reactions. Formation of the corresponding diene by dehydration of 1-octen-3-ol, especially in the toluene reaction, is a competing side reaction. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.