Development of technology for the alkylation of hydroquinone with aliphatic alcohols

The paper presents the results of research of technology of alkylation of hydroquinone, propyl, isopropyl, isobutyl and tert-butyl alcohols in the presence of concentrated phosphoric acid. The temperature of the alkylation reaction was maintained between 70–72 °С. On the basis of literature data and preliminary investigations the reaction was performed for 4 hours. Upon completion of the reaction, we removed the unreacted hydroquinone, aliphatic alcohol and phosphoric acid are added to a solution of distilled water (solvent corresponding connections) and sodium bicarbonate to slightly acidic (pH 5–6). For separation from the reaction medium of alkylhydroquinones in the reaction mixture was added benzene in which the original hydroquinone dissolves much less. Concentration of the benzene extract alkylhydroquinones conducted by Stripping the solvent under vacuum at temperatures above 70 °С in air atmosphere. Higher temperature vacuum distillation AIDS in the oxidation of alkylhydroquinones to alkylphenones. Precipitated after crystallization, alkylhydroquinones were dried under vacuum in a drying pistol at 56 °С. Dried products were identified by defining the melting temperature, the study of spectral characteristics and qualitative reactions with FeCl3. We also studied the solubility of alkylhydroquinones in various solvents, which showed low solubility of alkylhydroquinones in water, benzene, toluene and higher solubility in propyl and isopropyl alcohols and in acetone. Analysis of the results shows that the obtained alkylhydroquinones are not chemically pure compounds, and contain in their composition of admixture source of hydroquinone. Qualitative reactions of solutions of alkylhydroquinones with FeCl3 solution differ from the corresponding reaction of a solution of hydroquinone. The results of investigations of electronic absorption spectra of alkylhydroquinones and source of hydroquinone in isopropyl alcohol solution did not significantly differ from each other and have a maximum absorption at ? = 210 nm. From the presented investigations it follows that the maximum efficiency of the alkylation of hydroquinone was studied aliphatic alcohols in acidic medium is observed for t-butyl alcohol.