Superacid catalyzed preparation of resorcinol from meta-isopropylphenol

摘要

Resorcinol is prepared by an improved process through superacid (such as perfluorinated alkanesulfonic acids of one to eighteen carbon atoms or polymeric perfluorinated resinsulfonic acids, such as Nafion-H catalyzed cleavage-rearrangement reaction of meta-isopropylphenol hydroperoxide in the form of its protected ether or ester derivatives, including readily cleavable and reusable trimethylsilyl and trifluoromethanesulfonyl derivates. Part of the process is the preparation of needed meta-isopropylphenol in high purity free of other isomers by treating any mixture of isopropylphenol isomers in an excess of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride or a perfluorinated alkanesulfonic acid of one to six carbon atoms and a Lewis acid fluoride or by alkylating (transalkylating) phenol with a propyl alkylating agent in the presence of the aforementioned superacid systems.