Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating 5-isopropyl-m-cresol from other isopropylated m-cresols by treating a mixture of the isopropylated m-cresols with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with 5-isopropyl-m-cresol over other related closely-boiling isopropylated m-cresols in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of 5-isopropyl-m-cresol may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, 5-isopropyl-m-cresol. The process is particularly suitable for isolating 5-isopropyl-m-cresol from closely-boiling isomers, and diisopropylated m-cresols.

Abstract: Resorcinol is prepared by an improved process through superacid (such as perfluorinated alkanesulfonic superacids of one to eighteen carbon atoms or polymeric perfluorinated resinsulfonic acids, such as Nafion-H catalyzed cleavage-rearrangement reaction of meta-isopropylphenol hydroperoxide in the form of its protected ether or ester derivatives, including readily cleavable and reusable trimethylsilyl and trifluoromethanesulfonyl derivates. Part of the process is the preparation of needed meta-isopropylphenol in high purity free of other isomers by treating any mixture of isopropylphenol isomers in an excess of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride or a perfluorinated alkanesulfonic superacid of one to eighteen carbon atoms and a Lewis acid fluoride or by alkylating (transalkylating) phenol with a propyl alkylating agent in the presence of the aforementioned superacid systems.

Abstract: Phenols may be alkylated with monosubstituted or alpha, beta-disubstituted olefins over a silica alumina composite to afford 2,4,6-tri-sec-alkylphenols in high yields. The alkylation catalyst shows high activity and high selectivity to the 2,4,6-trialkylated product while minimizing oligomerization of the olefin. Composites containing from about 40 to about 60% silica, the remainder being alumina, are especially valuable.

Abstract: Organic compound mixtures enriched in meta-isopropylphenol are prepared by alkylating phenol with isopropanol or propylene to form mixtures of isopropylphenol isomers and by subsequently selectively cracking the para-isopropylphenol isomer from such a mixture over a ZSM-5 type cracking catalyst. Concentration of the para-isomer is thereby selectively reduced relative to the meta-isomer and the meta-isopropylphenol isomer can be further separated from the remaining mixture by fractionation procedures.

Abstract: Substantially improved yields of 2,4,6-trialkylphenols result from alkylating a mixture of phenol and 2,6-dialkylphenol, the latter being a by-product of the alkylation reaction. This results flows from an unexpected synergistic effect accompanying transalkylation. The continuous method of making 2,4,6-trialkylphenol based on this property affords the highly desirable trialkylated phenols in high yield.

Abstract: Phenol is catalytically alkylated with an isopropanol or propylene alkylating agent to form high yields of an isopropylphenol product enriched in the para-isomer of isopropylphenol. Such an alkylation process is carried out under catalytic alkylation conditions including a temperature of from about 200.degree. C. to 300.degree. C. and contact with a crystalline zeolite catalyst having a silica to alumina molar ratio of at least about 12 and a constraint index of about 1 to 12.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for reacting phenol, mono- and di-alkyl phenols having at least one free o-position with methanol and/or dimethyl ether in the gas phase to form o-substituted phenols in the presence of a catalyst of oxides of iron, chromium, silicon and at least one oxide of an alkaline-earth metal, lanthanum and manganese or in the presence of a catalyst of oxides of iron, chromium, a metal from the group comprising germanium, titanium, zirconium, tin, lead, and at least one oxide of an alkali metal, alkaline-earth metal, lanthanum and manganese.

Abstract: Para-isopropenylphenol can be obtained by dehydrogenation of para-isopropylphenol in the presence of a calcium-nickel phosphate catalyst, phenol, and water.

Abstract: An oligomer of m-isopropenylphenol is produced by subjecting m-isopropenylphenol to thermal polymerization in the absence of a catalyst.

Abstract: A process for introducing a plurality of alkyl groups into the aromatic ring of a hydroxy-substituted aromatic compound, whereby the available ortho sites are completely alkylated, comprises contacting said aromatic compound with olefin in the presence of a fluorided alumina as catalyst and recovering the product. The products of the process of this invention possess substantial antioxidant properties. A particular composition which shows enhanced resistance to oxidation and lowered gum formation comprises a major amount of a liquid petroleum product and from about 5 to about 500 parts per million by weight of a polyisopropyl hydroxy aromatic compound in which the available ortho positions are alkylated.

Abstract: A process for purifying p-isopropyl phenol (PIPP) by distilling the impure phenol at a pot temperature below about 475.degree. F. under sufficient vacuum to permit separation of a heart cut, and washing the separated heart cut with liquid hydrocarbon containing from about 5 to about 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A novel process for producing isopropenyl phenol such as p-isopropenyl phenol which comprises continuously feeding oligomers of isopropenyl phenol having a degree of polymerization of 2 to 5 into a high-boiling inert organic reaction medium such as an alkylnaphthalene heated at 150.degree. to 250.degree. C. under a pressure of 10 to 100 mmHg while maintaining the concentration of the oligomers in the reaction medium at not more than 30% by weight, thereby thermally decomposing the oligomers in the reaction medium; and continuously distilling off the resulting isopropenyl phenol out of the reaction system and recovering it. The process almost quantitatively gives isopropenyl phenol having reduced contents of impurities.

Abstract: A process is provided for the preparation of hydroquinone by oxidizing a phenol having in the paraposition a 1-cycloalkenyl or .alpha.-methylene-(alkyl or aralkyl) group. The oxidation is carried out using hydrogen peroxide or a hydrocarbyl peroxide in the presence of an inert solvent and a catalytic amount of a strong acid which is not oxidized by the peroxide. The other product of the reaction is the ketone derived by oxidation of the para-substituent in the starting phenol, e.g. p-isopropenylphenol gives hydroquinone and acetone. The reaction forms a particularly convenient route for conversion of phenol to hydroquinone in that phenol is condensed with acetone to bisphenol A, the latter is degraded by alkaline hydrolysis to a mixture of phenol and p-isopropenylphenol, which latter is subjected, without separation, to the above process to give a mixture of hydroquinone, phenol, and acetone.

Abstract: A continuous process for cleaving aralkyl hydroperoxides in acid media to yield phenols and carbonyl compounds in a reactor arranged and operated to limit the total residence time to less than the time required to form discoloration products.

Abstract: The essence of the invention consists in heating the dian waste in the presence of sodium hypophosphite as a catalyst in amount of 0.01 - 0.5% by weight at a temperature of 150 to 250.degree. C and under reduced pressure in the range of 5 to 50 mm Hg. As a result a destillate is obtained containing as main components phenol, o- and p-isopropenyl-phenol and their dimers at yield of about 40-74% by weight calculated in relation to the initial amount of dian waste. The distillate obtained was made up with fresh phenol or with phenol and acetone and brought into contact with strongly acid cation exchanger, such as Wofatit KPS, Zerolit 225, Wofatit OK-80, in consequence the o- and p-isopropenylphenol and their dimers reacted with phenol to obtain the dian, the latter being then separated by known methods.

Abstract: A process for the separation and purification of reaction product from the oxidation of hydrocarbyl aromatic compounds to hydrocarbyl aromatic hydroperoxides is provided comprising (1) extracting the oxidation effluent with an aqueous alcoholic base, (2) contacting the aqueous phase thus produced with a paraffin hydrocarbon solvent to remove residual unoxidized hydrocarbyl aromatic, (3) extracting the aqueous hydrocarbyl aromatic hydroperoxide phase remaining with an aromatic solvent, and (4) washing of the hydroperoxide-containing aromatic phase with water to remove base. The resulting hydroperoxide phase substantially free of unoxidized hydrocarbyl aromatic can be subjected to acid-catalyzed cleavage to produce hydroxy aromatic and carbonyl compound products without encountering the problem of azeotrope formation between unoxidized hydrocarbyl aromatic reactant with cleavage product.

Abstract: A method of preparing hydrocarbyl-substituted cresols is disclosed. The method comprises heating a mixture of mono- or di-hydrocarbyl-substituted cresols and an alcohol, which is benzyl alcohol or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 aliphatic alcohol, at an elevated temperature in the presence of a catalytic amount of alumina. The product contains at least one hydrocarbyl substituent corresponding to the hydrocarbon moiety of the alcohol used in the process. A typical process employs 4,6-di-t-butyl-m-cresol and isopropanol to prepare a product mixture containing a substantial amount of thymol.

Abstract: Haloloweralkyl ethynylbenzene compounds and their derivatives which are useful for the treatment for the relief of inflammation, pain and fever.