PRODUCTION OF ALCOHOLS

Japanese Patent JP3779452

B2

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the subject compound capable of reducing polymerization in distillation, useful as an intermediate for medicines and agrochemical by hydrolyzing the reaction product of a Grignard reagent of a specific halogenostyrene derivative and paraformaldehyde, cleaning the hydrolyzate with an alkali and distilling the hydrolyzate. SOLUTION: A Grignard reagent obtained by reacting an α-halogenostyrene derivative of formula I [X is a halogen; A is a (substituted) benzene ring] with magnesium is reacted with paraformaldehyde at 20-70°C for 30 minutes to 5 hours, hydrolyzed with an acidic aqueous solution (e.g. an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid, an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid or the like) at 5-50°C for 30 minutes to 2 hours, the reaction solution is separated into a water phase and an organic phase. The organic phase is cleaned with an alkali aqueous solution, the pH of the solution is adjusted to alkalinity and the phase is separated into a water phase and an organic phase. The obtained organic phase is cleaned with preferably water and distilled to give an alcohol of formula II.