PURPOSE: To produce the titled compound useful as a raw material for asymmetric polymer, additive for polymer production, etc., in high yield, by reacting naphthalenes in the presence of a peroxide and an acid and, if necessary, acylating the reaction product.
CONSTITUTION: 1,1'-Binaphthols of formula II (e.g. 2,2',6,6'-tetraphydroxy-1,1'- binaphthyl) can be produced by reacting naphthalenes of formula I (R1 is H or alkyl; R2 is H, hydroxy, alkyl, alkoxy or halogen) (e.g. 2,6-dihydroxynaph thalene) in the presence of a peroxide (e.g. hydrogen peroxide) and an acid (e.g. sulfuric acid) and, if necessary, reacting the product with an acylation agent (e.g. formic acid and acetic acid). The process can be performed without brominating a naphthalene compound as a raw material, using decreased amount of catalyst and preventing coloring of the product.
MIKI HISAYA
HIROKANE SHINYA
NITAHARA MASATOSHI
TAGUCHI TORU
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