Process for preparing alkali metal salts of hydroxyaromatic compounds

Abstract

Anhydrous alkali metal (especially sodium) salts of hydroxyaromatic compounds, particularly bisphenols such as bisphenol A, are prepared by forming a solution of the hydroxyaromatic compound in a solvent mixture comprising a relatively high boiling non-polar organic liquid such as toluene or o-dichlorobenzene and an alkanol containing up to about 4 carbon atoms, preferably methanol; contacting said solution with an aqueous solution of a substantially stoichiometric amount of alkali metal hydroxide; and removing substantially all volatile materials from the reaction mixture by evaporation. The product thus obtained is a slurry of the anhydrous alkali metal salt in the non-polar liquid.