Dsm N.v.

Matthias R Offermanns

Wim Buijs

Leon H Frijns

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a phenol by oxidative decarboxylation of a corresponding arylcarboxylic acid in the presence of a Cu-containing catalyst, the phenol being obtained through a hydrolysis step. The characteristic part of the process is oxidation of a Cu(I)-containing catalyst and reduction and hydrolysis in the absence of oxygen. The process can be carried out under liquid phase or gas phase conditions in a one-step or multi-step process and nucleation agents can be added for crystallization during catalyst oxidation. In a preferred embodiment, at least 0.04 wt.% copper remains present as Cu(I) after oxidation.

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Munstergeleen, Netherlands

Matthias R Offermanns