Abstract: Preparation of alkylation catalysts containing iron oxide and/or chromium oxide, by means of a process which comprises:(a) precipitating hydrate oxides of iron and/or chromium from an aqueous solution of soluble compounds of said elements;(b) separating the thus obtained precipitate, and washing said precipitate;(c) granulating the washed precipitate, and drying the granules so obtained;(d) calcining said dried granules at high temperature;in which an organic carboxylic acid salt of iron and/or chromium is added to and homogenized with the washed precipitate from stage (b), and/or the dried granules from stage (c) are impregnated with an aqueous solution of an organic carboxylic acid salt of iron and/or chromium.The catalysts obtained by means of the above process are mechanically strong, and highly active in the production process of 2,6-xylenol by means of the alkylation of phenol or o-cresol with methanol.