Process for preparing resorcinol monoethers

A process for the preparation of resorcinol monoalkyl ethers of the general formula I and II:

• ##STR15## wherein the radicals R.sub.1 to R.sub.4 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen, straight chain, branched or cyclic aliphatic radical or an aryl group or araliphatic radical and the radicals R.sub.5 and A stand for straight chain, branched or cyclic aliphatic radical or araliphatic radical which comprise dehydrogenating in a liquid phase using as a liquid a triethylene glycol dialkyl ether or a diethylene glycol dialkyl ether having alkyl groups of up to 6 carbon atoms, at a temperature from 160.degree. to 350.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst containing noble metals of subgroup VIII of the Periodical Table 3-alkoxycyclohexene-(2)-ones of the general formulae I' and II' ##STR16## wherein R.sub.1 to R.sub.5 and A have the aforesaid meaning.