FIELD: petrochemical syntheses. SUBSTANCE: toluene and synthesis-gas in gas phase are brought into contact with catalyst containing zeolite of ZSM-5 type or ZSM-5 modified by silicon and magnesium compounds and metal oxide component containing 65-70% zinc oxide, 29-34% chromium oxide, and 1% tungsten oxide at zeolite/metal oxide ratio (30- 70):(70-30), at temperature 380-480 C, and synthesis-gas supply rate from 700 to 6000 h-1. A part of gas stream, after condensed reaction products are separated, is recycled. Toluene/2- methylnaphthalene/synthesis-gas mixture is brought into contact with catalyst that, along with above-indicated components, ZSM-12-type zeolite under above-indicated conditions. EFFECT: increased selectivity in respect to dimethylnaphthalenes, and/or p-xylene, and p-ethyltoluene. 7 cl, 2 tbl, 12 ex
