Process for preparing chloromethylated aromatic materials

Abstract

An improved process for chloromethylating an aromatic material comprising introducing in a first closed container the aromatic polymeric material, catalyst for the chloromethylation reaction, and chloromethyl methyl ether in sufficient excess to insure completion of the chloromethylation reaction, and then performing the following series of steps: a. heating and stirring for sufficient time to substantially complete chloromethylation of the aromatic material, b. introducing sufficient formaldehyde, methanol, and hydrogen chloride to produce chloromethyl methyl ether in substantially the same amount as that consumed within the closed container, c. without separation of the aromatic material from the reaction mixture distilling chloromethyl methyl ether from said first closed container into a second closed container, d. removing chloromethylated aromatic product from said first closed container, e. introducing a new batch of aromatic material and catalyst for the chloromethylation reaction to said first closed container, and f. introducing to said first closed container, as the sole source of chloromethyl methyl ether for chloromethylation of said new batch of aromatic material, said chloromethyl methyl ether from said second closed container.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.