METHOD FOR PRODUCING AROMATIC ALCOHOL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for efficiently produce an aromatic alcohol in improved yield. SOLUTION: The method for producing the aromatic alcohol comprises oxidizing an aromatic compound represented by formula (I) [wherein n is either one of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5; substituent group R is an alkyl, an aryl, an aralkyl, a halogen, a haloalkyl, OR1, SR1, SOR1, SO2R2, NO2, NR1R2, CH2OR1, CH(OR1)(OR2), C(OR1)(OR2)(OR3), COR1or COCOR1(R1, R2and R3are each selected from an alkyl, an aryl and hydrogen) and when n is ≥2, R may be the same or different], separating an aromatic carboxylic acid from the resultant reaction liquid and producing the aromatic alcohol from the residual reaction liquid. In the production method, a base-containing waste liquid after removal by neutralization is extracted with a nonaqueous organic solvent to recover the aromatic alcohol. COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI