IMPROVED METHOD FOR PRODUCING MERCAPTOMETHYLPHENOL

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing a mercaptomethylphenol compound having a reduced, reduced discoloration and good storage stability in the presence of a lithium catalyst or an alkali medium. SOLUTION: This improved method for producing the mercaptomethylphenol of formula I [(n) is 0 or 1; R1 is a 1 to 12C alkyl or CH2SR3; R2 is a 1 to 12C alkyl, a (substituted) 7 to 9C phenylakyl or CH2SR3; R3 is a 6 to 18C alkyl, phenyl or benzyl; R4 is H or methyl; R5 is H or methyl; provided that R4 and R5 are simultaneously not each methyl; R11 is H or a 1 to 12C alkyl; R12 is H, a 1 to 12C alkyl or a (substituted) 7 to 9C phenylalkyl], characterized by reacting a compound of formula II with formaldehyde or a compound releasing the formaldehyde under reaction conditions and at least one compound represented by formula III; R3SH in the presence of a base (dimethylamine) and then treating the reaction product with a reducing agent.