PRODUCTION OF TETRACHLORO-1,4-BENZOQUINONE

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone of high purity by the action of chlorine and concentrated hydrochloric acid on hydroquinone, which involves introducing a portion of the hydroquinone to be employed into initially introduced hydrochloric acid containing catalytic amounts of iron(III) ions and an anionic dispersant, introducing chlorine gas into this solution at a temperature from 20 DEG to 107 DEG C., then adding the residual quantity of hydroquinone as a solid or in solution, raising the temperature to from 80 DEG to 107 DEG C. while continuing to pass in gaseous chlorine, adding, after the introduction of gaseous chlorine has ended, a relatively high-boiling organic solvent which is not miscible with hydrochloric acid, and subsequently subjecting the reaction mixture to thermal aftertreatment.