Iron pillared Montmorillonite has been synthesised and it is then wet impregnated with vanadia with different vanadia
composition. These catalysts are characterised using conventional techniques such as XRD analysis,FTIR analysis and
surface area and pore volume measurements. Acidity is measured using spectrophotometric monitoring of adsorption of
perylene, thermogravimetric desorption of 2.6 dimethylpyridine and temperature programmed desorption of ammonia.
Activity studies are done in the liquid phase. It has been concluded that Lewis acidic sites are responsible for the benzylation
of toluene when the benzylating agent is benzyl chloride while Bronsted acidic sites are responsible when the reagent is
benzyl alcohol.