Bis(alpha-alkylbenzyl)ether production

摘要

Production of bis-(alpha-alkylbenzyl)ethers or substituted derivatives thereof by reaction at elevated temperature of the corresponding alpha alkylbenzyl alcohols in the presence of a mineral acid treated calcined alumina catalyst, quenching the catalyst with a basic compound and recovery of the desired ether by distillation following separation of the quenched catalyst, is disclosed. The alkyl methylbenzyl alcohol may be present as a component of an aromatic rich distill and product mixture derived from the ethyl benzene hydroperoxide epoxidation of an olefinically unsaturated compound.