Alpha-Methylstyrene → Cumene

Participants

Reaction Steps

A 300-ml four-necked glass flask was charged with 38.0 g (0.20 mole) of 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-cyclohexene-1-ol, 0.4 g of 5% palladium carbon, 59.1 g (0.50 mole) of α-methylstyrene and 100 ml of 2-ethylhexanol. The mixture was reacted at 160° C. for 4 hours in a nitrogen atmosphere. The reaction mixture was hot filtered at 150° C. to recover the palladium-carbon. 2-Ethylhexanol, α-methylstyrene and cumene formed were distilled off from the filtrate under reduced pressure. 37.2 g of white crystals of 4,4'-biphenol were obtained. The product had a purity of 98.6% based on liquid chromatography, a p-phenylphenol content of 0.9% and a yield converted to a purity basis of 98.5%. High purity 4,4'-biphenol useful as the raw material of high-temperature resistant resins and other intermediates can be obtained in high yield according to this invention.

Provenance & Evidence