Process for the manufacture of resorcinols

In a process for the manufacture of resorcinols of the formula ##STR7## in which the radicals R.sup.1 to R.sup.4, which may be identical or different, represent hydrogen, alkyl groups having up to 12 carbon atoms, R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 can additionally represent alkoxy groups having up to 4 carbon atoms or aryl groups having up to 10 carbon atoms and R.sup.3 can additionally represent a cyano group or carbalkoxy group having up to 6 carbon atoms, by reacting in a first step 4-oxo-carboxylic acid esters of the formula ##STR8## in which the radicals R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 have the aforesaid meaning and R.sup.5 is an alkyl radical having up to 6 carbon atoms, or .delta.-enollactones of the formula ##STR9## in which R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 have the aforesaid meaning, with a strong base selected from the alkali and alkaline earth metals and their alcoholates, oxides, amides and hydroxides to form a cyclohexane dione and in a second step dehydrogenating said cyclohexane dione under a pressure of from 0.1 to 20 atmospheres at a temperature of from 150.degree. to 350.degree. C. in the presence of a catalyst containing a noble metal of the 8th subgroup of the Periodic Table to form said resorcinol, the improvement which comprises carrying out both of said steps without intermediate isolation of said cyclohexane dione in a solvent solution of a solvent which is an ether or a mixture of several ethers of the formula ##STR10## in which n is in the range of from 1 to 5 and R.sup.6 to R.sup.9, which may be identical or different, represent alkyl groups having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and, with the exception of R.sup.6 and R.sup.9, may also represent hydrogen.