Abstract: Phenols are produced from .alpha.-aralkyl peroxides, preferably alkyl- .alpha. -phenalkyl peroxides or diphenalkyl peroxides, by heating the peroxide in the presence of an acid catalyst and continuously separating volatile reaction products other than the phenol; i.e., a carbonyl compound and alcohol if formed, from the reaction mixture, preferably by bubbling a stripping gas therethrough. Phenol may be produced from an alkyl benzene by reacting the alkyl benzene with t-butyl hydroperoxide to produce a t-butyl- .alpha. -phenalkyl peroxide which is then decomposed in the presence of an acid catalyst. The reaction co-products include t-butanol and a carbonyl compound corresponding to the alkyl group.