Process for producing a linear trimer of paraisopropenyl phenol

摘要

A novel trimer of p-isopropenyl phenol of the structure <IMAGE> which is useful as a material or a curing agent for epoxy resins. The linear trimer includes a cis-isomer (m.p. 225.5 DEG -227 DEG C.) and a trans-isomer (m.p. 167 DEG -168 DEG C.). It is prepared by reacting p-isopropenyl phenol or its linear polymer in the presence of an acid catalyst such as sulfuric acid, boron fluoride or activated clay in an aromatic hydrocarbon, halogenated hydrocarbon, substituted aromatic hydrocarbon or aprotic polar solvent (e.g., benzene, carbon tetrachloride, nitrobenzene or dioxane).