PRODUCTION OF BINUCLEAR DIMETHYLOL COMPOUND OF P-CRESOL

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily obtain 2,2'-methylenebis(6-hydroxy-4-methylphenol) useful as a starting raw material for a condensation reaction in high purity and yield by reacting p-cresol with formaldehyde in the presence of a basic catalyst and water at a specific temperature. SOLUTION: The objective compound of the formula can be produced by reacting (A) p-cresol with (B) formaldehyde at a molar ratio (A:B) of 1:(1-5) at 40-80 deg.C in the presence of (C) 0.1-2 times mol (based on the component A) of a basic catalyst (e.g. an alkali metal hydroxide) and (D) 4-20 times weight (based on the component C) of water. The reaction is preferably carried out by adding an aqueous solution of the component B to a system containing the components A, C and D.