Process for the preparation of 1,1,3,3-substituted hydroxy indanes

Process for producing 1,1,3,3-substituted hydroxy indanes which comprises reacting an alkylphenol having the formula

• wherein
• R.sup.1, r.sup.2 and R.sup.3, which may be the same or different, are selected from the group of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl with up to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl with 3 to 8 carbon atoms, aralkyl with up to 6 carbon atoms in the alkyl portion and up to 14 carbon atoms in the aryl portion, phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, and the foregoing substituted by alkyl with up to 12 carbon atoms, in addition to which
• R.sup.2 and R.sup.3, when they are in the ortho position relative to one another may be taken together with the carbon atoms of the benzene ring to which they are attached to form a 5-membered carbocylic ring,
• R.sup.5 is selected from the group of alkyl with up to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl with 3 to 8 carbon atoms, aralkyl with up to 6 carbon atoms in the alkyl portion and up to 14 carbon atoms in the aryl portion, phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, and the foregoing substituted by alkyl with up to 12 carbon atoms,
• R.sup.10 and R.sup.11 which may be the same or different, are selected from the group of hydrogen and alkyl with up to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl with 3 to 8 carbon atoms, aralkyl with up to 6 carbon atoms in the alkyl portion and up to 14 carbon atoms in the aryl portion, phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, and the foregoing substituted by alkyl with up to 12 carbon atoms, in addition to which
• R.sup.5 and R.sup.10 may form a cycloaliphatic ring with the carbon atoms to which they are attached,
• R.sup.12 is hydrogen, and
• R.sup.13 is halogen, hydroxyphenyl or --OR.sup.14 where R.sup.14 is selected from the group of hydrogen and alkyl with up to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl with 3 to 8 carbon atoms, aralkyl with up to 6 carbon atoms in the alkyl portion and up to 14 carbon atoms in the aryl portion, phenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, and the foregoing substituted by alkyl with up to 12 carbon atoms, in addition to which
• R.sup.12 and R.sup.13 together may also represent another bond between the carbon atoms to which they are attached,
• with 2 moles, per mole of said alkylphenol, of an olefin containing the following group, ##STR27## in which at least one double-bonded carbon atom contains only carbon-to-carbon bonds, or with a compound which yields the corresponding olefin in situ, in the presence of an acid catalyst at a temperature in the range from 70.degree. to 360.degree. C.