The alkyl hydroquinones, e.g., methyl hydroquinone (a useful intermediate in the preparation of the monomer methyl hydroquinone diacetate, itself used for the synthesis of thermotropic polymers), are prepared by reacting (C-alkylating) hydroquinone or a monoether thereof with a lower alkanal, in the vapor phase, with a catalytically effective amount of at least one solid metal oxide.