US 7,321,054 B2
Method of producing poly(ortho-methylphenol)
Rie Azuma, Wakayama (Japan); and Tadashi Hiramine, Wakayama (Japan)
Assigned to Honshu Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Feb. 06, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/671,901.
Claims priority of application No. 2006-030185 (JP), filed on Feb. 07, 2006.
Prior Publication US 2007/0197832 A1, Aug. 23, 2007
Int. Cl. C07C 309/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 562—113 12 Claims
 
1. A method of producing a poly(ortho-methylphenol) represented by general formula (2) comprising the steps of:
reacting a polyphenol compound represented by general formula (1) with formaldehyde in the presence of a secondary amine, thereby obtaining a poly(ortho-aminomethyl)phenol; and
hydrogenolyzing the amino methyl group of the poly(ortho-aminomethyl)phenol in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst:

OG Complex Work Unit Drawing
wherein X represents a —O— group, —S— group, carbonyl group, aromatic hydrocarbon group, or saturated hydrocarbon group of carbon number 1 to 12, and n represents an integer of 2 to 4,

OG Complex Work Unit Drawing
wherein X and n represent the same as in general formula (1).