There is disclosed a process for the production of alkylated hydroxyanisoles which consists of dehydrogenating para-isopropylphenol to para-isopropenylphenol which is then reacted with a methylating agent to yield para-isopropenylanisole which is then treated with acidic hydrogen peroxide to yield para-hydroxyanisole which is then treated with an alkylating agent to yield the alkylated hydroxyanisole. The process of this invention is especially useful for the synthesis of the food preservative butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA).