Method for preparing 3-ethylbenzophenone

A method for preparing 3-ethylbenzophenone in a high purity which consists essentially of the steps of alkylating benzene with ethylene in the presence of an alkylating catalyst comprising aluminum chloride at a temperature within the range of about 0.degree. to 175.degree. C. to obtain an alkylated product composed mainly of unreacted benzene, ethylbenzene, polyethylbenzene and heavier substance;

• subjecting said alkylated product to distillation in order to recover therefrom a fraction which has a temperature range of boiling points within the range of 275.degree. to 310.degree. C. (in terms of atmospheric pressure);
• dehydrogenating said recovered fraction at a reaction temperature within the range of 200.degree. to 700.degree. C. in the presence of dehydrogenation catalyst comprising an iron oxide;
• oxidizing said dehydrogenated fraction in a liquid phase with an oxidizing agent comprising a peroxide at a reaction temperature of 0.degree. to 100.degree. C. in an inert solvent;
• and performing distillation to recover therefrom 3-ethylbenzophenone represented by the formula (I):
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