Abstract: A process for the isolation of a dihydroxybenzenemonoether from a reaction mixture containing solvent, ether and unreacted dihydroxybenzene, comprising contacting the reaction mixture with at least one hydrocarbon which is not miscible or only partially miscible with the reaction mixture, the ether selectively entering the hydrocarbon. Advantageously the reaction for the preparation of the monoether is carried out in an alcohol, a ketone, a dipolar aprotic solvent or a polyhydroxyalkyl ether, or a mixture thereof with water, the hydrocarbon used as extracting agent has a boiling point between about 80.degree. and 300.degree. C., and the extraction is carried out in the presence of water whereby there is an increase in the selectivity of the extraction.

Abstract: A process for the isolation of a dihydroxybenzene-monoether from a reaction mixture containing solvent, ether and unreacted dihydroxybenzene, comprising contacting the reaction mixture with at least one hydrocarbon which is not miscible or only partially miscible with the reaction mixture, the ether selectively entering the hydrocarbon. Advantageously the reaction for the preparation of the monoether is carried out in an alcohol, a ketone, a dipolar aprotic solvent or a polyhydroxyalkyl ether, or a mixture thereof with water, the hydrocarbon used as extracting agent has a boiling point between about 80.degree. and 300.degree. C., and the extraction is carried out in the presence of water whereby there is an increase in the selectivity of the extraction.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a monoalkyl ether of a hydroxyphenol of the formula ##STR1## in which Z each independently is hydrogen or a substituent which is stable under the reaction conditions,R is lower alkyl, andn is 1, 2, 3 or 4,comprising reacting a hydroxyphenol of the formula ##STR2## with an alkyl halide, alkyl sulphonate or aryl sulphonate alkylating agent of the formulaR--Xin which X is a halogen atom, or an alkylsulphonyloxy or arylsulphonyloxy radical,at a temperature from about 130.degree. C. to 200.degree. C. and in the presence of an alkali metal base or alkaline earth metal base and of a diluent comprising a polyhydroxyalkyl ether having at least one OH group. Advantageously the base is sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate or potassium bicarbonate, the hydroxyphenol is pyrocatechol, the alkylating agent is isopropyl chloride, isopropyl C.sub.

Abstract: In the preparation of a 7-hydroxycoumaran of the formula ##STR1## in which Z is a hydrogen atom or a substituent which is inert under the subsequent reaction conditions,R.sup.1 is a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 -alkyl radical, andn is 1, 2 or 3wherein a pyrocatechol of the formula ##STR2## is reacted with an allyl compound of the formula ##STR3## in which Y is a halogen atom, a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 -alkyl-sulphonate radical or an aryl-sulphonate radical,to form the mono-ether of the pyrocatechol in a first stage, and in a second stage, of the pyrocatechol monoether formed in the first stage is rearranged to a 3-alkenylpyrocatechol, and in a third stage the 3-alkenylpyrocatechol formed in the second stage, is cyclized, the improvement which comprises stages. (b) carrying out the second stage at a pH of about 2-8.