Process for the production of ortho-hydroxybenzyl alcohols

Claim 1

PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AN ORTHO-HYDROXYBENZYL ALCOHOL IN WHICH THE ORTHO-PHENYLENE RADICAL MAY CARRY UP TO THREE SUBSTITUENTS SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF ALKYL AND ALKOXY GROUPS AND HALOGEN ATOMS WHICH COMPRISES REACTING IN ANHYDROUS MEDIUM AT 0* TO 150* C. A TRIPHENYL METABORATE IN WHICH EACH PHENYL RADICAL IS SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF UNSUBSTITUTED PHENYL RADICALS AND PHENYL RADICALS HAVING AT LEAST ONE FREE ORTHO POSITION AND SUBSTITUTED BY UP TO THREE SUBSTITUENTS SELECTED FROM ALKYL AND ALKOXY GROUPS AND HALOGEN ATOMS, WITH A SUBSTANCE SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF FORMALDEHYDE AND MATERIALS WHICH GENERATE FORMALDEHYDE UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE REACTION, AND DECOMPOSING THE TRI(ORTH - HYDROXYBENZYL)METABORATE PRODUCED WITH AN ALKALI METAL HYDROXIDE FOLLOWED BY DECOMPOSITION OF THE INTERMEDIATE COMPLEX WITH A REAGENT SELECTED FROM THE CLASS CONSISTING OF MINERAL ACIDS AND SUBSTANCES WHICH CHELATE BORIC ACID MORE STRONGLY THAN THE ORTHO-HYDROXYBENZYL ALCOHOL TO BE LIBERATED, AND ISOLATION OF THE ORTHO-HYDROXYBENZYL ALCOHOL THUS PRODUCED.