PRODUCTION OF 4-(4-HYDROXYPHENYL)-2-BUTANONE

摘要

PURPOSE:To industrially and advantageously obtain the titled compound which is an aromatic component of raspberry and useful as a perfume, by reacting phenol with methyl vinyl ketone using an insoluble and noncorrosive cation exchange polymer as a catalyst. CONSTITUTION:Phenol in an excessive amount is reacted with methyl vinyl ketone, preferably at 40-70 deg.C using a cation exchange polymer (especially preferably having sulfonic acid groups) as a catalyst to afford 4-(4- hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone. Separation of the catalyst after the reaction is facilitated and the catalyst can be reused by using the cation exchange polymer as the catalyst without requiring a highly corrosion-resistant reactor. Furthermore, this method is improved in economic efficiency without requiring removal of water in the raw materials.