PURPOSE: To obtain the subject compound of high quality in high yield with reduced problems on safety, hygiene and environment during the praduetion thereof by reaction of a β-resorcilic acid with an alkali metal hydroxide followed by condensation reaction of the product with an organic halide.
CONSTITUTION: β-resorcylic acid of formula I (R1-R4 are H, lower alkyl, benzyl, phenyl) or its phenyl-substituted derivative, or its ester is allowed to react with an alkali metal hydroxide in a solvent such as N,N-dimethylacetamide at 30 to 150°C to give an alkali salt of the compound of formula I. The water formed on this reaction is distilled off to make the anhydrous conditions and the alkali salt is allowed to react with an organic halide of the formula: R-X (X is halogen; R is alkyl, acyl or aryl) at 30 to 150°C to give the objective compound of formula II. The compound of formula II is useful as an industrial chemical, agrochemical, medicine, particularly as a color developer in the recording material utilizing the color reaction between an electron-donating color fixing agent and an electron-accepting color developer.
TAJIMA KEIJI
TAKAGUCHI MASAYUKI
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