PROCESS FOR PREPARING A PARA-BRANCHED ALKYL-SUBSTITUTED HYDROXYAROMATIC COMPOUND

摘要

Disclosed herein is a process for preparing an isomeric mixture comprising a major amount of a para-branched mono-alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound. The process involves the steps of: (a) subjecting an isomeric mixture comprising a major amount of a para-di(alkyl-substituted)aromatic compound; wherein a first alkyi substituent is a C3 to C8 alkyi moiety and a second alkyi substituent is a C4+n to C8+n branched alkyi moiety, wherein n is 0 to 42 and further wherein the second alkyi substituent is at least one carbon atom greater than the first alkyi substituent to oxidation conditions to a mixture of hydroperoxide compounds followed by converting the hydroperoxide moiety to a hydroxyl group.