Abstract: The current invention provides and improved method for hydrolyzing alpha-chlorinated toluene compounds comprising the steps of:—providing an alpha-chlorinated toluene compound of formula (I) wherein at least one of R1, R2 and R3 is CI and wherein (Ra)n designates that the benzene nucleus may have one or more substituents which may be same or different and are selected from the group consisting of H, CI, Br and —CmH2m+1, n being 0 or an integer from 1 to 5, and m being an integer, preferably from 1 to 6,—hydrolyzing said compound with water in the presence of a metal oxide.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of p-fluorophenol, which comprises hydrolyzing p-bromofluorobenzene with a mixture of NaOH and Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3 in the presence of a copper catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing phenates substituted by halogen groups of the corresponding phenols which comprises reacting a halo-substituted benzene with a powdered base having a particle size of less than 4 mm in the presence of an aprotic polar solvent.

Abstract: A molten substituted phenol and an aqueous caustic solution are reacted at temperatures from 170.degree. C. to 190.degree. C. under superatmospheric pressure to form an aqueous solution of an alkali metal phenate. By employing a rapid drying process such as flashing the water vapor from the reactor to cool the mixture, alkali metal phenate solids are produced with low levels of toxic by-products.