Formaldehyde → Formaldehyde

Participants

Reaction Steps

4.5.10-3 mole of zinc acetate, in the form of an approximately 20% strength aqueous solution, 30 g of 96% pure paraformaldehyde ( 0.96 mole of CH2O) and 113.6 g of 97% pure thiophenol (1 mole) were added to 564 g (6 moles) of phenol at about 70° C. The mixture was then heated to the reflux temperature in the course of about 30 minutes and kept under these conditions for 7.5 hours (temperature of the mixture 154° to 132° C.). After this time, gas chromatography analysis gave a yield of 2-phenylthiomethylphenol of 81% of theory (relative to formaldehyde) and a ratio of 2- to 4-phenylthiomethylphenol of more than 99:1. The 2-phenylthiomethylphenol obtained on subsequent distillation at 140°-150° C./0.6-0.9 mm Hg was 98% pure.

Provenance & Evidence