PRODUCTION OF ALKYLPHENOL

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an alkylphenol useful as an antioxidant or a raw material for insecticides or synthetic resins by reaction of a specific aromatic aldehyde with formic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a specific organic solvent to synthesize the corresponding formic allyl ester which is then hydrolyzed. SOLUTION: This alkylphenol is obtained by the following steps: an aromatic aldehyde having at least one alkyl group is reacted with formic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an organic solvent substantially immiscible with water (pref. an aromatic hydrocarbon such as benzene, toluene or xylene) to synthesize the corresponding formic allyl ester, which is then hydrolyzed (wherein the molar ratio of the water to the formic allyl ester is pref. 1.5-10).