Koppers Company, Inc.

Gerd Leston

A process is disclosed for separating 3,5-xylenol or 3,4-xylenol from other closely boiling polymethylated phenolics by treating a mixture of the phenolics with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with the xylenol over other related phenolics in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of the xylenol may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of the xylenol.

Complex formed to separate 3,5-xylenol or 3,4-xylenol from other

A process is disclosed for separating nitrated phenolic compounds from other nitrated and unnitrated phenolics by treating a mixture of the phenolics with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with one of the phenolics over other related phenolics in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of one of the phenolics may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, one phenolic. The process is particularly suitable for resolving a mixture comprising phenol or cresol from their ortho-nitrated derivatives, or a mixture of two isomeric nitrated phenols or cresols or a mixture of mono- and dinitrated phenols or cresols.

Complex formed to separate nitrated phenolic compounds from other

Phenols alkylated in the ortho and/or para positions are produced in good yields and in the absence of isomers from phenolic compounds having at least two alkylateable ortho-ortho or ortho-para positions open. The phenolic compound is first partially chlorinated or brominated and the desired halogenated phenol having at least one open position ortho or para is reacted with an aldehyde having one to four carbon atoms and a secondary non-aromatic amine. The reaction is conducted in the liquid phase with a stoichiometric amount of the phenolic compound and stoichiometric or excess of stoichiometric amounts of the aldehyde and the amine. The reaction is performed at a temperature of from about 0.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. to produce an aminoalkylated halogenated phenolic compound. This aminoalkylated halogenated phenolic compound is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a metal catalyst at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. to about 175.degree. C. and at a hydrogen pressure of less than 500 psig to produce the desired phenol having at least one alkyl group ortho or para and at least one open position ortho or para.

Process for alkylating phenolic compounds to produce ortho or

A process is disclosed for separating nitrated phenolic compounds from other nitrated and unnitrated phenolics by treating a mixture of the phenolics with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with one of the phenolics over other related phenolics in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of one of the phenolics may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, one phenolic. The process is particularly suitable for resolving a mixture comprising phenol or cresol from their ortho-nitrated derivatives, or a mixture of two isomeric nitrated phenols or cresols or a mixture of mono-and dinitrated phenols or cresols.

Ortho- or para-monoalkylated phenols or 2,4- or 2,6-dialkylphenols can be produced from phenolic compounds in good yields and in the absence of isomers. The starting phenol which has at least two available ortho or para positions unsubstituted is converted to a t-alkylated phenol having at least one ortho or para position unsubstituted. The desired t-alkylated phenolic compound is reacted with an aldehyde having one to four carbon atoms and a secondary aliphatic or alicyclic amine. The reaction is conducted in the liquid phase with a stoichiometric amount of the phenolic compound and stoichiometric or excess of stoichiometric amounts of the aldehyde and the secondary amine. The reaction is conducted at a temperature in the range of about 0.degree. C., to about 100.degree. C. and the reaction produces an aminoalkylated t-alkylated phenol. The aminoalkylated phenol is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a metal catalyst at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. to about 175.degree. C. at a hydrogen pressure not greater than 500 psi to produce monoalkylated, mono- or di-t-alkylated phenol or a dialkylated, mono-t-alkylated phenol in the ortho- and para- positions. The thus produced alkylated t-alkylated phenolic compound is contacted with an acid or an acid reacting substance to give the desired alkylated phenolic compound. These compounds are separated to produce ortho-monoalkylated, para-monoalkylphenol, 2,4-dialkylphenol and 2,6-dialkylphenol.

Process for alkylating phenolic compounds to produce ortho- or

A process is disclosed for separating closely-boiling chlorinated phenolic compounds from other chlorinated and unchlorinated phenolics by treating a mixture of the phenolics with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with one of the phenolics over other related closely-boiling phenolics in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of one of the phenolics may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, one phenolic. The process is particularly suitable for resolving a mixture comprising phenol or cresol from their closely-boiling ortho-chlorinated derivatives, or a mixture of two isomeric chlorinated phenols or cresols or a mixture of closely-boiling mono- and dichlorinated phenols or cresols.

Complex formed for separating chlorinated phenols

A process is disclosed for separating 5-isopropyl-m-cresol from other isopropylated m-cresols by treating a mixture of the isopropylated m-cresols with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with 5-isopropyl-m-cresol over other related closely-boiling isopropylated m-cresols in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of 5-isopropyl-m-cresol may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, 5-isopropyl-m-cresol. The process is particularly suitable for isolating 5-isopropyl-m-cresol from closely-boiling isomers, and di-isopropylated m-cresols.

Complex formed for separating isopropylated m-cresols

Process for separating 3,5-xylenol or 3,4-xylenol from other

Process for separating nitrated phenolic compounds from other phenolic

A process is disclosed for reducing the concentration of o-ethylphenol in m,p-cresol by partially t-butylating a mixture of the above and equilibrating the resultant mixture to convert o-ethylphenol and its 6-t-butyl derivative to the thermodynamically most stable 4-t-butyl-o-ethylphenol. The resultant mixture may then be separated by fractional distillation to isolate m,p-cresol low in o-ethylphenol, optionally, the mono-t-butylated derivatives of m,p-cresol and leave behind the 4-t-butyl-o-ethylphenol, along with di-t-butylated derivatives of all the phenols.

Reduction of o-ethylphenol in m,p-cresol by preferential t-butylation

Process for separating chlorinated phenols

A process is disclosed for separating 5-isopropyl-m-cresol from other isopropylated m-cresols by treating a mixture of the isopropylated m-cresols with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with 5-isopropyl-m-cresol over other related closely-boiling isopropylated m-cresols in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of 5-isopropyl-m-cresol may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, 5-isopropyl-m-cresol. The process is particularly suitable for isolating 5-isopropyl-m-cresol from closely-boiling isomers, and diisopropylated m-cresols.

Process for separating isopropylated m-cresols

A process is disclosed for separating closely-boiling dihydric phenol compounds by treating a mixture of dihydric phenols with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with one of the dihydric phenols over other related dihydric phenols in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of one of the dihydric phenols may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, one dihydric phenol. The process is particularly suitable for resolving a mixture comprising hydroquinone and catechol, or a mixture of hydroquinone and resorcinol, or a mixture of homocatechol and hydroquinone, or a mixture of catechol and resorcinol.

Process for separating dihydric phenols

A process is disclosed for separating t-butylated phenolic compounds from other t-butylated and unbutylated phenolics by treating a mixture of the phenolics with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with one of the phenolics over other related phenolics in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of one of the phenolics may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, one phenolic. The process is particularly suitable for resolving a mixture comprising phenol or cresol from their ortho-t-butylated derivatives, or a mixture of two isomeric t-butylated phenols or cresols or a mixture of mono- and di-t-butylated phenols or cresols.

Process for separating t-butylated phenols

Para-cresol is separated from a mixture comprising meta-cresol and various other methylated and ethylated phenols by preferentially complexing the para-cresol with one or more anhydrous or dehydrated inorganic salts selected from the group consisting of calcium bromide, lithium bromide, manganese bromide and magnesium chloride. The anhydrous inorganic salt is added to the phenolic mixture in an amount to give a mole ratio of salt to para-cresol in the mixture in the range of about 0.5 mole to one to about 1.5 mole to one. The para-cresol and salt form a complex and the complex is removed from the mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols. Then the complex is decomposed to recover the para-cresol and salt; the recovered salt may be recycled to complex with more para-cresol.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Gerd Leston