Method of producing phenol compound

Abstract

A method of producing a phenol compound comprising a step of oxidizing an aromatic aldehyde to an aryl formate and an aromatic carboxylic acid with an oxygen-containing gas, and a step of decomposing the aryl formate to the phenol compound. To facilitate the separation of the aryl formate and the unreacted aromatic aldehyde, a mixture of the aryl formate and the unreacted aromatic aldehyde is recycled to the oxidation process to concentrate the aryl formate in the oxidation mixture. Alternatively, the oxidation process is carried out in an organic solvent having substantially no ability of dissolving water to increase the conversion of the aromatic aldehyde and the selectivity of the aryl formate, thereby producing the aryl formate in a high yield. In another method, the aryl formate is produced by oxidizing the aromatic aldehyde in the organic solvent having substantially no ability of dissolving water with performic acid generated in situ in the reaction system from the reaction between formic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Since the oxidation proceeds in the organic solvent, hydrogen peroxide in aqueous phase contact the aromatic aldehyde. This significantly reduces the amount of explosive cyclic perther and a high-boiling product.