PREPARATION OF ALKYLPHENYL ALKYL ETHER OR ALKYL PHENYL ALKYL THIOETHER

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of alkyl phenyl ethers or alkylphenyl alkyl thioethers of the general formula where U = O, S, R1 to R6 are identical or different and represent alkyl or aryl groups having 1 to 6 C atoms, R1 to R5 can also be other functional groups, in particular -COOR, -NO2, -NH2, -O-CH2-CH2-OH, -OH, -CHO, -Hal, but the radicals R1 to R5 can also be bridged by bifunctional substituents, in particular -(CH2)x-, -(CH2)x-Z-(CH2)y-, in which Z = hetero, x = 0-7 and y = 0-7 or by unsaturated substituents or by fused ring systems, by reaction of the corresponding phenols or thiophenols with dialkyl carbonates, which is characterised in that it is carried out at temperatures of 70-300 DEG C at elevated pressure or normal pressure in the presence of monocyclic, bicyclic, polycyclic or acyclic amidines as catalysts.