Process for making 2-hydroxy-4-alkoxyphenyl or 2,4-dihydroxyphenyl substituted 1,3,5-triazine UV absorbers

A process for preparing a triazine compound of the formula

• which process comprises
• (i) reacting in the presence of a first catalyst, sufficient amounts of a compound of formula (D)
• and a compound of formula (E)
• at a suitable temperature and pressure in the presence of a solvent and for a sufficient time,
• wherein
• X is a halogen,
• R1 is hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2 to 24 carbon atoms, acyl of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, aryl of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 to 24 carbon atoms, cycloacyl of 5 to 24 carbon atoms, aralkyl of 7 to 24 carbon atoms or aracyl of 6 to 24 carbon atoms,
• R2 is alkyl of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2 to 24 carbon atoms, acyl of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, aryl of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 to 24 carbon atoms, cycloacyl of 5 to 24 carbon atoms, aralkyl of 7 to 24 carbon atoms or aracyl of 6 to 24 carbon atoms,
• R3, R4 and R5 are the same or different and each is hydrogen, halogen, alkyl of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2 to 24 carbon atoms, acyl of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, aryl of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 to 24 carbon atoms, cycloacyl of 5 to 24 carbon atoms, aralkyl of 7 to 24 carbon atoms, aracyl of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, OR, CONRR′, OCOR, CN, SR;
• or R3 and R4, or R4 and R5, together form a saturated or unsaturated fused carbocyclic ring optionally containing O, N or S atoms in the ring,
• R and R′ are the same or different and each is hydrogen, alkyl of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, alkenyl of 2 to 24 carbon atoms, acyl of 1 to 24.carbon atoms, aryl of 6 to 24 carbon atoms, cycloalkyl of 5 to 24 carbon atoms, cycloacyl of 5 to 24 carbon atoms, aralkyl of 7 to 24 carbon atoms, or aracyl of 6 to 24 carbon atoms.