III International Conference

CATALYSTS SEARCH FOR α-METYLBENZYLPHENOLSPP-III-24Shaliminova D., Cherezova E.Kazan State Technological University / Polymeric Institute, Kazan, Tatarstan, RussiaE-mail: cherezove@rambler.ruAlkylation reactions of phenol and its derivatives by styrene in the presence of differentcatalysts as well as inhibitors of styrene polymerization were examined in our work.The influence of catalysts sort, initial reagents ratio, reaction time and temperature onfinal products structure was studied.Nowadays arylalkylphenols are widely used as antioxidants for synthetic rubbers andlatexes. One way of their synthesis is alkylation of phenol by unsaturated compounds(olefines, cycloolefines).Alkylation reactions of phenol and its derivatives by styrene in the presence of differentcatalysts as well as inhibitors of styrene polymerization were examined in our work.The influence of catalysts sort, initial reagents ratio, reaction time and temperature onfinal products structure was studied.Aryl-sulfonic acids and synthetic cation-exchange resins (SCER) were used as catalystsof the process. The phenol alkylation using aryl-sulfonic acids was accompanied withintensive side-reactions, which led to increase of viscosity of reaction mixture. Liquidchromatography was used for identification of the structure of alkylation products.It was found that the mixture of 2-α-metylbenzylphenol, 4-α-metylbenzylphenol, 2,4-di-(α-metylbenzyl)phenol, and 2,6-di-(α-metylbenzyl)phenol is generated during the reaction,and di- and oligomerization processes were occurred. The oligomerization process is notdesirable due to difficulties for final product isolation and catalysts separation from it.That is why it is necessary to carry out the synthesis of arylalkylphenols in the presenceof inhibitors of polymerization. Agidol-1, Agidol-2, 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, diphenoquinonewere used as inhibitors of styrene polymerization. If we used Agidol-1, we found out, that theviscosity of reaction mixture was not increase.If we use SCER as catalyst, we find out that side-reactions are much less intensive. Thesignificant advantage of SCER over homogeneous catalysts is that in their presencemonoalkyl derivatives are produced in less quantities; the styrene polymerization process isnot proceeded. If we use as catalysts SCER, for instance, KU-23, we will get mainly parasubstitutionprocess and 2,6-di-(α-metylbenzyl)phenol formation in considerable amounts.513