Abstract: In a process for producing phenol and methyl ethyl ketone, benzene and a C4 olefin are contacted under alkylation conditions and in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to produce sec-butylbenzene. The sec-butylbenzene is then oxidized to produce an oxidation effluent comprising sec-butylbenzene hydroperoxide and acetophenone. At least part of the sec-butylbenzene hydroperoxide in the oxidation effluent is cleaved to produce phenol and methyl ethyl ketone, while at least part of the acetophenone is hydrogenated to produce at least one of methyl benzyl alcohol, styrene and ethylbenzene.