PRODUCTION OF 2-HYDROXY-BENZYL ALCOHOL HAVING IMPROVED STABILITY WITH TIME

摘要

PURPOSE:To improve stability with time and to obtain the titled compound industrially and advantageously by reacting phenol with formaldehyde in the presence of a catalyst of a bivalent metallic salt of an organic acid, by using a solid adsorbent as a catalyst removing agent, purifying and crystallizing. CONSTITUTION:Phenol is reacted with formaldehyde or a substance to produce formaldehyde under the reaction condition by using a bivalent metallic salt (especially preferably zinc acetate, zinc salt of unsaturated fatty acid or mixture thereof) as a catalyst to give 2-hydroxy-benzyl alcohol. In the reaction, when the reaction product is purified and crystallized from an organic solvent, a solid adsorbent (especially preferably activated clay) is used as a catalyst removing agent to give 2-hydroxy-benzyl alcohol having excellent stability with time. This compound is useful as a raw material for perfume and agricultural chemicals.