Alicyclic diepoxy compound, epoxy resin composition comprising the same, and cured article therefrom

An alicyclic diepoxy compound as an epoxidation product of an alicyclic diene compound, the alicyclic diene compound comprising a bicyclohexyl-3,3′-diene compound represented by following Formula (2):

• wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, and R18 are the same as or different from one another and each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydrocarbon group which may have an oxygen atom or a halogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group,
• wherein said bicyclohexyl-3,3′-diene compound is prepared by dehydration of a 4,4′-dihydroxybicyclohexyl compound in an organic solvent in the presence of a dehydration catalyst while distilling off by-produced water, the 4,4′-dihydroxybicyclohexyl compound being represented by following Formula (3):
• wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, and R18 are as defined above, and
• wherein said alicyclic diene compound may contain an isomer of said bicyclohexyl-3,3′-diene compound as an impurity, and, when said isomer is contained in said alicyclic diene compound, a content of said isomer is less than 20% in terms of peak area ratio based on the total peak areas of the bicyclohexyl-3,3′-diene compound and said isomer, the peak areas being determined by gas chromatography.