1,3-Dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone → 4-(4-Methylphenoxy)-1,1′-biphenyl

Participants

Reaction Steps

A four-necked flask equipped with a thermometer, a stirrer, and a reflux condenser with a water trap was charged with 554.7 g of p-phenylphenol, 607.7 g of p-chlorotoluene, 265.4 g of potassium carbonate, 8.0 g of 8-hydroxyquinoline-copper complex and 82 g of 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone. The mixture was stirred at 140° to 180° C. under nitrogen for 5 hours while the temperature was raised gradually. The material which was collected in the trap was removed from time to time. After 15 hours of further heating at 170° to 185°C. with stirring, the ratio of p-phenylphenol and 4-biphenylyl p-tolyl ether in the reaction mixtures was found to be 1.5:98.5 as determined by GLC (gas-liquid chromatography) on the area ratio basis. Thereafter, the resulting mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure (10 mmHg) to give 270 g of a distillate composed of p-chlorotoluene and 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone. Toluene (400 ml) was added to the residue for dissolving the reaction product. The organic layer was washed with a 10% sodium hydroxide solution, 10% sulfuric acid, and water, in that order. The toluene was then distilled off under reduced pressure to give 796 g of crude, light brown 4-biphenylyl p-tolyl ether in 95% yield. Distillation of the crude product under reduced pressure (2 mmHg) at 190° to 195° C. to give 775 g (92% yield) of white 4-biphenylyl p-tolyl ether melting at 97° to 99° C.

Provenance & Evidence