Process for production of 2,6-di-tert-alkenyl phenols

A process wherein a 2,6di-tert-alkyl phenol of the structural formula:

• ##STR7## is reacted with an allyl halide of the structural formula:
• ##STR8## in the presence of an aqueous solution of an alkali metal hyroxide, a catalyst, and heat to yield a 2,6-di-tert-alkyl-4-alkenyl phenol of the structural formula:
• ##STR9## wherein R is a tertiary alkyl radical of 4 to 8 carbon atoms and R.sub.1 is a monovalent radical selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl radicals of 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• and R.sub.2 is a monovalent radical selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl radicals of 1 to 6 carbon atoms and aryl radicals of 6 to 10 carbon atoms;
• and X is a chlorine or bromine radical, the improvement characterized in the use of a triphase catalyst defined by the formula:
• ##STR10## wherein the ratio of a to b pluc c may vary between 1 to 1 to 1 to 100 with a preferred range being 1 to 5 to 1 to 50 and wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are the same or different radicals selected from the group comprised of alkyl radicals of 1 to 12 carbon atoms, secondary alkyl radicals of 3 to 12 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl radicals of 5 to 8 carbon atoms;
• X.sup..crclbar. is a radical selected from the group consisting of chlorine, fluorine and bromine and hydrogen sulfate radicals;
• M is phosphorus or nitrogen and n is equal to a whole positive integer from 1 to 12.