PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ARYL-SUBSTITUTED ESTERS OF PROPIONIC ACID

Disclosed is a process for the preparation of aryl-substituted propionic acid esters having the formula: wherein R and R are a C1-C12 linear or branched alkyl, a C5-C12 cycloalkyl, a C6-C12 aryl or a C7-C12 alkaryl or aralkyl, R is hydrogen or a C1-C20 linear or branched alkyl and R is a C1-C20 linear or branched alkyl, a C5-C12 cycloalkyl, a C6-C12 aryl or a C7-C20 alkaryl or aralkyl, and may be the same or different, which comprises forming a reaction mixture of a phenol, at least one base catalyst and an acrylate, in the presence of a complexing agent effective in increasing the rate of reaction, wherein (i) substantially all of the side-product is removed from said reaction mixture prior to the addition of the complexing agent and (ii) all or substantially all of the acrylate is added at once to the reaction mixture. The process results in higher yields of the desired product, in a shorter period of time, with a reduction of undesirable by-products.