Monsanto Company

Lawrence J Hughes

Walter R Knox

James C Hill

Paul W Foerst

James C Drummond

A process is described for preparing 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenylethane by reacting phenol with a 1,2-dihaloethane in which the halogen is chlorine, bromine or iodine, in at least the stoichiometric proportions of 2:1 in contact with a catalyst comprising lanthanum oxide supported on an inorganic material such as silica at a temperature from about 125.degree. to about 225.degree. C. and in the presence of a hydrogen halide as a promoter.

Preparation of dihydroxydiphenyl alkanes

Bitumen filled polyester foams are provided through a process which comprises forming a solution of a bitumen having a softening point of at least about 80.degree. C. and a cyclic diacid anhydride at a temperature above the softening point of a bitumen, the bitumen solution is then mixed with a monoterminal epoxide and a polyterminal epoxide in the presence of a blowing agent resulting in the initiation of an exothermic reaction. The process for producing bitumen filled polyester foams through the in situ polymerization of polyesters in a solution of bitumen and the foams produced by the process constitute the invention.

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St. Charles, MO, United States of America

Lawrence J Hughes