Process for producing aromatic diols.

摘要

An aromatic diol, e.g. hydroquinone, or a monoalkyl ether of an aromatic diol, e.g. the monomethyl ether of hydroquinone, is produced by transesterifiying a carboxylate ester of said aromatic diol or monoalkyl ether with an alcohol or phenol such as ethanol. A newly-formed ester such as ethyl acetate is co-produced by the reaction. The carboxylate ester is preferably produced by subjecting an aromatic ketone containing a hydroxy or alkoxy radical on the aromatic ring, e.g. 4-hydroxyacetophenone, to a Baeyer-Villiger oxidation.