Abstract Toluene isopropylation is carried out over modified montmorillonite clays. Effect of ion exchange and pillaring on the catalytic activity and selectivity is noted. Elemental analysis results give the extent of metal incorporated. Enhanced porosity is evident from X-ray diffraction as well as surface area – pore volume measurements. 29 Si NMR shows the resonance for T (3Si, 1Al) units which shifts proportional to the amount of pillar metal present. Among the different modifications mixed metal oxide pillaring is found to be most effective in catalytic activity, p -cymene selectivity and lowering deactivation.