Process for sulfonating impure ortho alkylphenol

摘要

The sulfonation of o-alkylphenols by reaction with sulfuric acid is improved to give higher conversion to disulfonated o-alkylphenol by adding a small amount of a polybasic carboxylic acid (e.g. oxalic acid) to the o-alkylphenol. The sulfonated product is converted to a dinitro-o-alkylphenol by reaction with nitric acid or salt thereof.