Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine (Production)

Catherine Vottero

Yves Labat

Jean-Marie Poirier

The invention relates to the preparation of alkylthiophenols by reaction of a dialkyl disulphide with a phenol. In the process according to the invention, the reaction is carried out in the presence of aluminum chloride or of ferric chloride in a solvent of the alkylbenzene type or, soley in the case of methylthiolation, in an excess of dimethyl disulphide. This process makes it possible, in particular to obtain, with a selectivity and in a yield which are excellent, 2-alkylthiophenols which may then be converted into 4-acyl-2-alkylthiophenols by means of a reaction at a temperature ranging from 40.degree. to 100.degree. C. with a complex BF.sub.3 :2RCOOH where R denotes an alkyl or propenyl radical, in a proportion of 10 to 15 moles of complex per mole of 2-alkylthiophenol.

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Provins, France

Catherine Vottero