Process for production of m-phenoxybenzyl alcohol

摘要

A process for producing m-phenoxybenzyl alcohol which comprises reacting chlorobenzene with m-hydroxybenzyl alcohol in the presence of a copper compound as a catalyst and a base, characterized in that chlorobenzene is added to a polar solvent having a higher boiling point than chlorobenzene, the amount of chlorobenzene being 0.05 to 4.0 times the weight of the polar solvent; at least one compound selected from alkali hydroxides, alkali carbonates and alkali bicarbonates is used as the base in an amount of 1.0 to 2.0 gram-equivalents per mole of m-hydroxybenzyl alcohol; and the reaction is carried out at a temperature of 140 DEG to 200 DEG C. while removing the generated water as an azeotrope with chlorobenzene.