Preparation of ortho-(alkyl- or arylthio)phenols

A process for the preparation of ortho(alkylthio- or arylthio)phenols wherein the alkylthio- and arylthio- moieties are of the formula RS-which comprises reacting a corresponding phenol having the formula ##STR2## wherein X and Y are independently selected from the group consisting of H, OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, OR.sub.1, Cl, F, I, Br, aryl or aryl substituted with C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, OR.sub.1, Cl, F, I or Br, or when X and Y are on adjacent carbon atoms, they may be taken together to form CH.dbd.CH--CH.dbd.CH;

• and
• R.sub.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl or phenyl;
• provided that X and Y cannot simultaneously be OH, and when X or Y is OH and the other is hydrogen, the OH cannot be in the para position;
• with a compound selected from the group consisting of alkyl or aryl disulfides having the formula (RS).sub.2
• wherein R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl or aryl wherein aryl is unsbustituted or substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, Cl, F, I, Br, OR.sub.1, aryl where R.sub.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl or phenyl
• provided that when R is C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 alkyl, the carbon bonded to the heteroatom must be substituted by one or two hydrogen atoms;
• or (alkylthio- or arylthio)phenols, or mixtures of the foregoing wherein the alkylthio- and arylthio- moieties are of the formula RS- and the phenol moieties correspond to Formula I above in the presence of an aluminosilicate having catalytically active acidic sites.