PROCESS FOR PRODUCING N,N-DISUBSTITUTED AMINOPHENOL

摘要

A process for producing N,N-disubstituted aminophenol which comprises the steps of: obtaining a reaction mixture containing N-substituted aminophenol by reacting a dihydric phenol and an amine; subjecting said reaction mixture to heat treatment so as to thermally decompose quaternary ammonia salt contained in said reaction mixture into a dihydric phenol and an amine, and removing at least said amine by distillation; separating high-boiling impurities by distillation to separate N-substituted aminophenol; and subjecting said separated N-substituted aminophenol to reduction alkylation using an aldehyde compound. According to the present invention, high-purity N,N- disubstituted aminophenol can be obtained in a high yield at high selectivity, and a reduction catalyst can be used repeatedly because its activity can be maintained at a high level and yet it can retain high activity for a long period of time.