To obtain the subject compound useful as a raw material for pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, polymers, etc., in high purity by hydrolyzing an acetylbenzenecarboxylic acid with an aqueous solution of acetic acid.
(A) An acetylbenzenecarboxylic acid of preferably formula I (m+n≤6; Ac is COCH3) is hydrolyzed with (B) an aqueous solution of acetic acid to obtain (C) a hydroxybenzenecarboxylic acid of preferably formula II (m+n≤6). The component A is obtained by the acetylation and oxidation of an alkylphenol and is preferably acetylbenzenecarboxylic acid or 5- acetoxyisophthalic acid. The solution B preferably has an acetic acid content of 10-90wt.%, preferably 40-80wt.% and its amount is 0.5-7 pts.wt., preferably 1.5-3 pts.wt. based on 1 pt.wt. of the raw material.
SUEMATSU MASAAKI
GOUDOU AKINOBU
