Abstract:
A process is disclosed for separating 5-isopropyl-m-cresol from other isopropylated m-cresols by treating a mixture of the isopropylated m-cresols with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with 5-isopropyl-m-cresol over other related closely-boiling isopropylated m-cresols in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of 5-isopropyl-m-cresol may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, 5-isopropyl-m-cresol. The process is particularly suitable for isolating 5-isopropyl-m-cresol from closely-boiling isomers, and diisopropylated m-cresols.
Abstract:
This disclosure is directed to a method for preparing 5-sec-alkyl-m-cresol in high concentrations and yields comprising alkylating m-cresol with an alkene over a solid catalyst selected from finely divided silica alumina clays and finely divided molecular sieves and then isomerizing the alkylated m-cresol product over the same catalyst for at least two hours at temperatures of at least about 250.degree. C. The ratio of alkene to m-cresol is from about 0.5:1.0 to about 1.0:1.0. The resulting isomerized alkylated m-cresol contains a ratio of 5-alkyl-m-cresol to 6-alkyl-m-cresol of at least 2.5:1 and a ratio of 5-alkyl-m-cresol to 4-alkyl-m-cresol of at least 3.0:1.0. The desired 5-alkyl-m-cresol may be obtained from the isomerized alkylated-m-cresol reaction product by fractional distillation. The undesired alkylated-m-cresol isomers and unreacted m-cresol may be recycled into the alkylation and/or isomerization step. The method is particularly useful for preparing 5-isopropyl-m-cresol(m-thymol).
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for separating nitrated phenolic compounds from other nitrated and unnitrated phenolics by treating a mixture of the phenolics with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with one of the phenolics over other related phenolics in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of one of the phenolics may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, one phenolic. The process is particularly suitable for resolving a mixture comprising phenol or cresol from their ortho-nitrated derivatives, or a mixture of two isomeric nitrated phenols or cresols or a mixture of mono- and dinitrated phenols or cresols.
Abstract:
Ortho- or para-monoalkylated phenols or 2,4- or 2,6-dialkylphenols can be produced from phenolic compounds in good yields and in the absence of isomers. The starting phenol which has at least two available ortho or para positions unsubstituted is converted to a t-alkylated phenol having at least one ortho or para position unsubstituted. The desired t-alkylated phenolic compound is reacted with an aldehyde having one to four carbon atoms and a secondary aliphatic or alicyclic amine. The reaction is conducted in the liquid phase with a stoichiometric amount of the phenolic compound and stoichiometric or excess of stoichiometric amounts of the aldehyde and the secondary amine. The reaction is conducted at a temperature in the range of about 0.degree. C., to about 100.degree. C. and the reaction produces an aminoalkylated t-alkylated phenol. The aminoalkylated phenol is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a metal catalyst at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. to about 175.degree. C. at a hydrogen pressure not greater than 500 psi to produce monoalkylated, mono- or di-t-alkylated phenol or a dialkylated, mono-t-alkylated phenol in the ortho- and para- positions. The thus produced alkylated t-alkylated phenolic compound is contacted with an acid or an acid reacting substance to give the desired alkylated phenolic compound. These compounds are separated to produce ortho-monoalkylated, para-monoalkylphenol, 2,4-dialkylphenol and 2,6-dialkylphenol.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for separating nitrated phenolic compounds from other nitrated and unnitrated phenolics by treating a mixture of the phenolics with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with one of the phenolics over other related phenolics in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of one of the phenolics may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, one phenolic. The process is particularly suitable for resolving a mixture comprising phenol or cresol from their ortho-nitrated derivatives, or a mixture of two isomeric nitrated phenols or cresols or a mixture of mono-and dinitrated phenols or cresols.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for the stepwise separation of para-cresol and meta-cresol from a mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols. The para-cresol forms a complex with a dehydrated or anhydrous inorganic halide salt selected from the group consisting of calcium bromide, lithium bromide, manganese bromide and magnesium chloride. The meta-cresol isomer is separated from the mixture by formation of a complex with sodium acetate. Where the anhydrous or dehydrated inorganic halide salt is added firstly to the mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols including para-cresol and meta-cresol, the halide salt is provided in an amount to give a mole ratio of the halide salt to para-cresol in the mixture in the range of about 0.5 to one to about 1.5 to one. The para-cresol complexes with the halide salt and the complex is then removed from the mixture. The para-cresol-salt complex is thereafter decomposed to recover the para-cresol. The mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols including meta-cresol from which the para-cresol has been removed has added to it sodium acetate in an amount to give a mole ratio of sodium acetate to meta-cresol in the mixture in the range of about 0.5 to one to about 5 to one. The meta-cresol sodium acetate complex is then separated from the mixture of methylated and ethylated phenols and thereafter the complex is decomposed to produce a high purity meta-cresol. It is a feature of the invention that either of the complexing steps may be performed first; that is, either of the anhydrous halide salt or the sodium acetate may be added to the mixture, followed thereafter by addition of the other complexing agent.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for separating 3,5-xylenol or 3,4-xylenol from other closely boiling polymethylated phenolics by treating a mixture of the phenolics with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with the xylenol over other related phenolics in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of the xylenol may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of the xylenol.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for separating nitrated phenolic compounds from other nitrated and unnitrated phenolics by treating a mixture of the phenolics with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with one of the phenolics over other related phenolics in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of one of the phenolics may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, one phenolic. The process is particularly suitable for resolving a mixture comprising phenol or cresol from their ortho-nitrated derivatives, or a mixture of two isomeric nitrated phenols or cresols or a mixture of mono-and dinitrated phenols or cresols.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for separating 3,5-xylenol or 3,4-xylenol from other closely boiling polymethylated phenolics by treating a mixture of the phenolics with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with the xylenol over other related phenolics in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of the xylenol may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of the xylenol.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed for separating closely-boiling dihydric phenol compounds by treating a mixture of dihydric phenols with a metal halide salt. The metal halide salt preferentially forms a complex with one of the dihydric phenols over other related dihydric phenols in the mixture. The preferentially-formed complex of one of the dihydric phenols may then be isolated from the mixture and the complex decomposed to provide a product substantially enriched in, or substantially entirely composed of, one dihydric phenol. The process is particularly suitable for resolving a mixture comprising hydroquinone and catechol, or a mixture of hydroquinone and resorcinol, or a mixture of homocatechol and hydroquinone, or a mixture of catechol and resorcinol.