Superacid catalyzed preparation of resorcinol from meta-diisopropylbenzene

Abstract

Resorcinol is prepared in high yield and purity by an improved process through superacid (such as perfluorinated alkanesulfonic acids of one to eighteen carbon atoms or polymeric perfluorinated resinsulfonic acids, such as acidified Nafion-H, catalyzed cleavage-rearrangement reaction of meta-bis(2-hydroperoxy-2-propyl)-benzene (meta-diisopropylbenzene dihydroperoxide). Part of the process is the preparation of needed meta-diisopropylbenzene in high purity (98-100%) substantially free of other isomers by treating any mixture of diisopropylbenzenes with an excess of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride or a perfluorinated alkanesulfonic acid of one to six carbon atoms and a Lewis acid fluoride, or by alkylating (transalkylating) cumene with a propyl alkylating agent in the aforementioned superacid systems.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.