PREPARATION OF CHLOROHYDROQUINONE MONOMETHYL ETHERS

PURPOSE:To prepare chlorohydroquinone monomethyl ethers simply and inexpensively by one-stage electrolytic reaction, by subjecting o- or m-chlorophenol to electrolytic oxidation in an electrolytic cell equipped with a diaphragm by using methanol containing a support electrolyte as a solvent. CONSTITUTION:In an electrolytic cell, methanol which may contain water and/or acetic acid is used as a solvent to subject o- or m-chlorophenol to electrolytic oxidation in the presence of a support electrolyte, e.g., borofluoric acid or borofluoride. The concn. of chlorophenol in the solvent is usually 0.05-5mol/l and a reaction temp. is usually 0-50 deg.C. As the result, chlorohydroquinone monomethyl ethers are obtained from o- or m-chlorophenol at a high yied in high selectivity by one-stage reaction. By methylating the hydroxyl group of the obtained compound, chlorohydroquinone dimethyl ethers are easily obtained.