Acid Decomposition of p-tert-Butylcumene Hydroperoxide to p-tert-Butylphenol and Acetone

Abstract

p-tert-Butyphenol is a valuable product of basic organic synthesis, widely used in various branches of industry. The relationships of acid decomposition of p-tert-butylcumene hydroperoxide to p-tert-butylphenol and acetone as one of the key steps of the alternative method for p-tert-butylphenol synthesis were studied. The influence exerted by temperature, catalyst concentration, and initial concentration of p-tert-butylcumene hydroperoxide on its acid decomposition was examined. Conditions ensuring preparation of p-tert-butylphenol in 92% yield were found. A kinetic model of the acid decomposition of p-tert-butylcumene hydroperoxide in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid was constructed; it adequately describes the experimental data and allows substantiation of the reaction mechanism.