Mitsubishi Petrochemical Company Limited

Kimiko Kaneko

Hiroshi Iwane

Takahiro Sugawara

Naoki Suzuki

Process for para-methylolating phenol compounds

A process for producing a polyhydroperoxy aromatic compound by oxidation of an aromatic hydrocarbon, e.g., 4,4'-diisopropylbiphenyl and 4,4'-diisopropylnaphthalene, with molecular oxygen is disclosed, in which the oxidation is carried out in the presence of a metal ion selected from cobalt, nickel, zinc and lead ions. Even in using a reaction apparatus made of an iron-containing metal generally employed in industry, a high conversion of secondary alkyl groups can be reached, and the desired polyhydroperoxy aromatic compound can be obtained in a high yield.

Process for producing polyhydroperoxy aromatic compound

A process for preparing 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl comprising oxidizing 4,4'-diisopropylbiphenyl with molecular oxygen and decomposing the resulting oxidation product in the presence of an acid catalyst is disclosed, in which oxidation of 4,4'-diisopropylbiphenyl is carried out in the presence of ammonia or an ammonium salt. The oxidation product has an increased selectivity of 4,4'-diisopropylbiphenyl dihydroperoxide and, therefore, produces the desired product in high yield upon acid decomposition.

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Ibaraki, Japan

Kimiko Kaneko