Quinone alkide synthesis system

A process for preparing quinone alkides from the corresponding phenols which comprises contacting in aqueous solution at pH above 7 a phenol with a minor amount of a soluble iron cyanide salt in the range of about 0.01 mole to 1.0 mole per mole of phenol, a significant amount of a soluble persulfate salt in the range of about 0.1 mole to 1.5 moles per mole of phenol and a base, said phenol having the formula:

• ##STR5## wherein R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 are either alike or different, members selected from the group of ##STR6## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are either alike or different, members selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, straight or branched chain alkyl moieties having from 1 to 11 carbon atoms;
• phenyl and alkyl substituted phenyl moieties having up to 9 carbon atoms;
• alicyclic hydrocarbon moieties having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms;
• and wherein R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are either alike or different, members selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, straight or branched chain alkyl moieties having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, phenyl and alkyl substituted phenyl moieties having up to 9 carbon atoms, and alicyclic hydrocarbon moieties having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms, and the molar ratio of iron cyanide salt to persulfate salt being from about 0.02 to about 0.9.