摘要:
The present invention discloses a process for the preparation of aromatic thiophenol represented by the formula (I):
Y n -Ar-(SH) m (I)
wherein Ar represents an aromatic hydrocarbon residue; Y represents at least one kind of substituent bonded to a carbon atom constituting the aromatic ring of Ar, which is selected from the group consisting of halogeno, nitro, nitrile, sulfone, sulfamoyl and hydrocarbylsulfonyl groups; m is an integer of 1 or more; and n is 0 or an integer of 1 or more, which comprises reacting aromatic thioether represented by the formula (II):
Y n -Ar-(SR) m (II)
wherein R represents a monovalent secondary or tertiary hydrocarbyl, or a monovalent primary hydrocarbyl group represented by the formula:
-CH 2 -R 1 or -CH 2 -CR 2 =C(R 2 ) 2 ;
where R 1 represents a monovalent aromatic ring group optionally substituted by a monovalent hydrocarbyl group, and each of R 2 may be the same as or different from each other and represents hydrogen or a monovalent hydrocarbyl group;
Y, Ar, m and n have the same meanings as defined above, in the presence of (A) a Lewis acid or a protonic acid provided that in the case of a protonic acid, primary hydrocarbyl group is excluded from R, and a solvent, and, if necessary, hydrolyzing the reaction product.