A Nafion-silica composite was employed as catalyst for the reaction, in a slurry batch reactor at 80 degreesC, of naphthalene (NA) with benzyl alcohol in cyclohexane. The products, the benzylnaphthalenes (M) and several dibenzyl derivatives (D), included dibenzyl ether that was itself shown to be a weak benzylating agent. However, dibenzyl ether has also been shown to be a critical factor in catalyst stability. The kinetics of both the reaction of benzyl alcohol to give dibenzyl ether, and the benzylation of naphthalene by benzyl alcohol or mixtures of alcohol and ether, were studied, and the measurements interpreted by kinetic models. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.