PROCESS FOR PHENOL ALKYLTHIOLATION AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE SYNTHESIS OF 4-ACYL-2-ALKYLTHIOPHENOLS

摘要

The invention relates to the preparation of alkylthiophenols by reaction of a dialkyl disulphide with a phenol. In the process according to the invention, the reaction is carried out in the presence of aluminum chloride or of ferric chloride in a solvent of the alkylbenzene type or, soley in the case of methylthiolation, in an excess of dimethyl disulphide. This process makes it possible, in particular to obtain, with a selectivity and in a yield which are excellent, 2-alkylthiophenols which may then be converted into 4-acyl-2-alkylthiophenols by means of a reaction at a temperature ranging from 40 DEG to 100 DEG C. with a complex BF3:2RCOOH where R denotes an alkyl or propenyl radical, in a proportion of 10 to 15 moles of complex per mole of 2-alkylthiophenol.