Abstract: Process for preparing benzenesulfonate salts from an appropriately substituted acid chloride and a hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid is conducted in the absence of solvent, in a molar excess of acid chloride and in the presence of a phase transfer catalyst selected from quaternary ammonium and quaternary phosphonium salts and the target reaction product. The molar excess of the acid chloride is used to reduce the occurrence of gelation in the product.