Purification of bisphenol monoester

摘要

A bisphenol monoester represented by the formula (I): <CHEM> wherein R<1> is hydrogen or alkyl, R<2> and R<3> are each alkyl, and R<4> is alkyl, alkenyl or phenyl, is produced by continuous two step reactions in which an aldehyde R<1>-CHO and 2,4-dialkylphenol are subjected to a condensation reaction in a C6-C10 aliphatic or C6-C12 aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, and then a resulting bisphenol compound dissolved in the solvent is subjected to an esterification with a carboxylic acid R<4>-COOH or its derivative. Prior to the esterification, the organic layer containing the bisphenol compound is subjected to a dehydration treatment, thereby enabling the two steps to proceed continuously without isolating the intermediate bisphenol compound. A purification process for the bisphenol monoester of the formula (I) is also disclosed in which the monoester is purified from a mixed solvent comprising a C6-C12 aromatic hydrocarbon solvent and a C1-C8 alcohol or C2-C3 aliphatic nitrile solvent.