Process for preparing alkoxy or arylmethoxy aroxyethanes

A novel process for manufacture of compounds of the formula

• 13
• wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aralkyl, aralkoxy, halogen, alkoxyalkoxy, and aralkoxyalkoxy;
• wherein R5 is selected from substituted or unsubstituted phenyl, the substituents being each independently selected from alkyl (C1-C8), alkoxy (C1-C8), aroxy, aralkoxy and halogen;
• the process comprising reacting substituted or unsubstituted phenols of the formula
• 14
• with ethylene carbonate in the presence of a first catalyst selected from the group consisting of metal halide, quarternary ammonium halide and quarternary phosphonium halide thereby forming an intermediate of the formula
• 15
• reacting the intermediate with a first compound selected from the group consisting of alkyl halide, aralkyl halide, alkyl sulfate, aralkyl sulfate, alkyl sulfonate and aralkyl sulfonate together with a metal hydroxide in the presence of a second catalyst, the second catalyst selected from quarternary ammonium salt or quarternary phosphonium salt.

A novel process for manufacture of compounds of the formula

• 16
• wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aralkyl, aralkoxy, halogen, alkoxyalkoxy, and aralkoxyalkoxy;
• wherein R5 is selected from substituted or unsubstituted naphthyl, the substituents being each independently selected from alkyl (C1-C8), alkoxy (C1-C8), aroxy, aralkoxy (C1-C8) and halogen;
• the process comprising reacting substituted or unsubstituted naphthols of the formula
• 17
• with ethylene carbonate in the presence of a first catalyst selected from the group consissting of metal halide, quarternary ammonium halide and quarternary phosphonium halide, thereby forming an intermediate of the formula
• 18
• reacting the intermediate with a first compound selected from the group consisting of alkyl halide, aralkyl halide, alkyl sulfate, aralkyl sulfate, alkyl sulfonate and aralkyl sulfonate together with a metal hydroxide in the presence of a second catalyst, the second catalyst selected from quarternary ammonium salt or quarternary phosphonium salt.