Abstract: A benzaldehyde acetal compound of formula (3): (wherein Q represents a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, Ar represents a phenyl group optionally substituted with at least one selected from the group consisting of alkyl groups having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and halogen atoms, and R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms).

Abstract: There is disclosed a process for the production of cresols, including the steps of: (a) conducting oxygenation of cymene with oxygen gas or an oxygen-containing gas without any addition of an alkali, thereby obtaining a solution of oxygenation products containing tertiary and primary hydroperoxides of cymene; (b) washing the solution of oxygenation products obtained in step (a) with an aqueous alkali solution at a temperature in the range of from 10.degree. to 95.degree. C.; (c) subjecting the solution of oxygenation products obtained in step (b) to hydrogenation at a temperature in the range of from 60.degree. to 100.degree. C. to decrease the content of primary hydroperoxide in such a manner that the weight ratio of primary hydroperoxide to tertiary hydroperoxide is not greater than 1/25 (w/w); (d) subjecting the solution treated in step (c) to decomposition in the presence of a catalyst; and (e) subjecting the solution treated in step (d) to hydrogenation to obtain cresols.