PURPOSE: To produce the compound having good color-developing property, good image-coloring property and good water resistance and useful as a color- developing agent for pressure-sensitive sheet and thermosensitive sheet, etc., by reacting a salicylate ester with an α-methylbenzyl halide in the presence of an acid catalyst and subsequently hydrolyzing the reaction product.
CONSTITUTION: A salicylate ester of formula I (R1 is 1-12C alkyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl) (e.g. methyl salicylate) is reacted with an α-methylbenzyl halide (e.g. 1-chloroethyl benzene) in the presence of an acid catalyst (e.g. trifluoromethane sulfonic acid), and the produced 3,5-di(α-methylbenzyl) salicylic acid ester [e.g. 3,5-di(α-methyl) salicylic acid methyl ester] is hydrolyzed in an sodium hydroxide aqueous solution at 95-105°C for 3hr into the objective 3,5-di(α-methylbenzyl) salicylic acid derivative.
YAMAGUCHI KEISABURO
YAMAGUCHI TERUHIRO