PROCESS OF PREPARING HYDROXYARYLALDEHYDES

An improvement in the process for preparing hydroxyarylaldehydes is disclosed where a phenolic compound is reacted with formaldehyde, in the presence of a catalyst such as a titanium or zirconium containing catalyst, optionally in the presence of a catalyst promoter, wherein the improvement is the addition of a yield effective amount of a modifier having the formula: where R1 is selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group that can have 5 and 6 carbon atoms, and an H, and where R2 is selected from the group consisting of: an alkyl group having from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and a cyclo alkyl group that can have 5 to 6 carbon atoms; and where R1 and R2 can together form a cyclic group that can have 5 and 6 carbon atoms.