PURPOSE: To produce a hydroxyaromatic compound useful as an intermediate for synthetic resins, agrochemicals, dyes, etc., in high yield in a state to enable easy separation and removal of catalyst while suppressing the by-production of hydroxylacetone by decomposing a specific hydroperoxide with an acid in the presence of a specific solid acid catalyst.
CONSTITUTION: The objective compound of formula II is produced by the acid decomposition of (A) a compound of formula I [Ar is a (substituted) phenyl; (n) is 1-3] such as cumene hydroperoxide, cymene hydroperoxide, diisopropylbenzene dihydroperoxide or triisopropylbenzene triperoxide in the presence of (B) a solid acid catalyst produced by treating a metal (hydr)oxide such as (hydr)oxide of Ti, Zr, Hf, Ge, Sn, Pb, Fe or Al with sulfuric acid and baking the product. Preferably, the component B has an acid strength of H0<-12 in terms of Hanamette's acidity function and an S content of 0.5-10wt.%.
SHIRAHATA TATSUO
YASAKA NAOTO
