PURPOSE: To obtain the titled compound useful as a color developer in heat- sensitive recording material easily in high yield and purity, by reacting a lower alkyl aromatic hydroxycarboxylate with a benzyl alcohol in the presence of an alkyltin compound as a catalyst.
CONSTITUTION: A lower alkyl aromatic hydroxycarboxylate, e.g. methyl p- hydroxybenzoate, is subjected to the ester interchange reaction with a benzyl alcohol in the presence of an alkyltin compound in an atmosphere of N2 under ordinary pressure or reduced pressure at 180W250°C. After completing the ester interchange reaction, the benzyl alcohol is distilled away to give crude benzyl aromatic hydroxycarboxylate, e.g. benzyl p-hydroxybenzoate, in high purity. Dibutyltin oxide, diethyltin oxide or dibutyltin diacetate, etc. may be used as the alkyltin compound.
TSUCHIYA HIROAKI
ITOU SHIGERU
YAMAMOTO ICHIROU
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