Process for producing phenols

In the process for producing a phenol by cleaving a secondary alkylbenzene hydroperoxide selected from the group consisting of mono- and di-hydroperoxides of alkylbenzenes of the formula ##STR2## wherein R.sub.1 is ethyl, .beta.-phenylethyl, benzyl or --C.sub.n H.sub.2n+1 in which n is an integer of 3 to 12, R.sub.2 is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.8 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy or nitro, and m is an integer of 1 to 3, and monohydroperoxides of alkylbenzenes of the formula ##STR3## wherein A is C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 alkylene, which comprises dissolving said secondary alkylbenzene hydroperoxide in an organic solvent which is inert to both the hydroperoxide and the cleavage product to form a solution, heating the solution in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of 60.degree. to 180.degree. C and separating the desired phenol from the cleavage product, the said solution containing 5 to 30% by weight of the secondary alkylbenzene hydroperoxide, the improvement comprising using sulfur as said catalyst in an amount of 0.001 to 5% by weight based on the weight of the secondary alkylbenzene hydroperoxide.