Process for the preparation of polychlorinated derivatives of phenol

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS WHEREIN PHENOL IS REACTED WITH CHLORINE AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURE TO FORM OCTACHLOROCYCLOHEXENONE BY SUCCESSIVELY FORMING DERIVATIVES OF PHENOL WHOSE CHLORINE CONTENT CORRESPONDS TO THAT OF TRICHLOROPHENOL, TETRACHLOROPHENOL AND A DERIVATIVE OF PHENOL CONTAINING MORE THAN FOUR CHLORINE ATOMS PER MOLECULE AND WHEREIN THE REACTION WTIH CHLORINE BEYOND THE FORMATION OF A PRODUCT WHOSE CHLORINE CONTENT CORRESPONDS TO THAT OF TRICHLOROPHENOL IS CARRIED OUT IN THE PRESENCE OF FERRIC CHLORIDE, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH CONSISTS IN CARRYING OUT THE REACTION BEYOND THE STAGE WHERE FOUR MOLES OF CHLORINE PER MOLE OF ORIGINAL PHENOL HAVE BEEN CONSUMED AT A TEMPERATURE OF 120* TO 140* C. AND IN THE PRESENCE OF PERFORMED OCTACHLOROCYCLOHEXENONE IN AN AMOUNT OF FROM 10 TO 50 MOLE PERCENT OF THE REACTION MIXTURE AND REMOVING THE FERRIC CHLORIDE.