Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of hydroxynaphthalenes of formula (I) ##STR1## wherein n represents a number from 1 to 6,X denotes C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, halogen, carboxyl, carboxylic acid ester, nitro, chlorosulphonyl, arylsulphonyl, hydroxyl, alkoxy, acyloxy, or an amino or aminosulphonyl that is unsubstituted or N-substituted with alkyl or aryl, or two radicals X, together with the adjacent carbon atoms to which they are bonded, form a fused-on aromatic, cycloaliphatic, or heterocyclic ring, andm denotes a number from 0 to 6, wherein if m is greater than 1, then each X can have different or identical meanings,by reacting(1) a naphthalenesulphonic acid of formula (II) or a salt thereof ##STR2## wherein n and m have the above meanings and X.sub.1 has the same meaning as X or is SO.sub.3 H, with(2) alkali in the presence of(3) an alkylated urea derivative.

Abstract: Novel difunctionalized cyclobutabenzene monomers of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein Z can be hydrogens or a cyclobutane ting; and X and Y are carbox amino, alcohol, isocyanate, acid halide, or bis-acyl fluoride groups. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cyclobutabenzene derivative is 1,2-dihydrocyclobutabenzene-3,6-carboxylic acid. The difunctionalized cyclobutabenzene monomer can form part of a polymer backbone chain, but has an additional functionality, the butane ring, which can be easily opened to produce strong, covalent bond crosslinking between polymer chains. The crosslinking can be induced simply by heating the polymer to a temperature in excess of 300.degree. C.

Abstract: An industrially useful process for the production of an aromatic hydroxy compound which comprises reacting an aromatic sulfonic acid alkali metal salt and/or an aromatic sulfonic acid with an alkali metal hydroxide in the presence of a surface active agent, wherein the reaction is effected by uniformly dispersing these-materials in a reaction medium selected from aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons. By employing this process, the product can be obtained with high purity, high yield and high selectivity using a minimum amount of the alkali metal hydroxide.

Abstract: 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl is prepared by treating biphenyl-4,4'-disulfonic acid or one of its alkali metal salts in an alkali metal hydroxide melt by a process in which the treatment is carried out in a melt which contains from 7 to 14 moles of potassium hydroxide and from 0 to 8 moles of sodium hydroxide, based in each case on 1 mole of biphenyl-4,4'-disulfonic acid, in the presence of an alkali metal carbonate at from 280.degree. to 360.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention is a process for the preparation of bisphenol A from acetone and phenol. By this invention, the formation of by-products is extremely decreased and post treatment steps can be simplified.This invention involves the following steps. (1) One mole of acetone is reacted with 4 to 12 moles of phenol in the presence of a sulfonic acid type cation exchange resin catalyst modified with a mercapto group-containing compound such as mercaptoethylamine to convert 20 to 60% of acetone, and (2) the reaction mixture containing unreacted acetone is successively reacted to the presence of the hydrochloric acid catalyst.The formation of by-products such as 2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane, Dianin's compound and the like is remarkably reduced by the process of this invention.

Abstract: A process for producing an aromatic hydroxy compound which comprises reacting an alkali metal salt of an aromatic sulfonic acid with an alkali metal hydroxide in a reaction medium which is an aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic hydrocarbon, or an aromatic ether or a mixture of these.

Abstract: A process for producing 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl which comprises subjecting to alkali fusion 1 mol of 4,4'-diphenyldisulfonic acid and/or potassium 4,4'-diphenyldisulfonate together with 4 to 10 mol of potassium hydroxide and 0.1 to 2 mol of potassium sulfate. Alternatively, the process may comprise subjecting to alkali fusion 4,4'-diphenyldisulfonic acid in the presence of potassium hydroxide, controlling to 20 to 25% the potassium hydroxide concentration in the reaction mixture, and separating dipotassium salt of 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl.

Abstract: A method for preparing .alpha.-naphthol according to the present invention comprises sulphonation of naphthalene with an equimolar amount of a concentrated sulphuric acid at a temperature ranging from 30.degree. to 85.degree. C. for a period of from 60 to 120 minutes in the presence of acetic anhydride whereafter .alpha.in an amount of from 0.5 to 1.5 mole per mole of naphthalene. The resulting naphthalene-.alpha.-sulphonic acid is fused with an alkali taken in an amount of 3-4 moles per mole of naphthalene-.alpha.-sulphonic acid at a temperature ranging from 180.degree. to 285.degree. C. for a period of from 10 to 30 minutes. The resulting melt consisting of the alkali metal .alpha.-naphtholate and the alkali metal sulphite is mixed with a polar solvent; the resulting mixture is acidified with a mineral acid taken in an amount equimolar relative to the alkali metal .alpha.-naphtholate, whereafter.alpha.-naphthol is separated from the resulting suspension.

Abstract: The waste water being formed upon the preparation of hydroxy aromatics, preferably of resorcinol and .beta.-naphthol, by caustic alkaline melt of the corresponding aryl-sulfonic acids or aryl sulfonates is purified by wet oxidation with oxygen or oxygen-containing gases at temperatures of from about 100.degree. to 370.degree. C. and under a pressure of from about 1 to 300 bars. The COD-decomposition rates amount to about 90% and more.When a hydroxy aromatic is prepared by means of a caustic soda melt, this process provides a sulfate, especially sodium sulfate, which is of sufficient purity for further use without complementary purification stages. The obtention of the pure salt is important for the economy of the process.