Process for the preparation of an allyl aryl ether by catalytic o-allylation

摘要

The invention provides a process for the preparation of an allyl aryl ether comprising the O-allylation of an aromatic hydroxyl containing compound with an allyl source in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a transition metal complex with a bidentate diphosphine ligand, and wherein the bidentate diphosphine ligand has 2 to 4 bridging atoms between the phosphorus atoms and wherein at least one of the bridging atoms is substituted. This invention further provides novel transition metal complexes that may be used in the above process. This invention further provides a process for the preparation of epoxy resins wherein as intermediate use is made of the allyl aryl ethers prepared by the process of the invention.