| abstract |
A novel process is provided for the preparation of a substituted phenate (or the corresponding phenol) of the formula: n<CHEM>n wherein X is halo or trifluoromethyl with the proviso that, when X is halo, X min is trifluoromethyl,n X min is hydrogen, halo, trifluoromethyl or (C1-C4) alkyl,n andn M is the cation of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal, wherein the process comprises reacting a compound of the formula n<CHEM>n (wherein X and X min are as above defined) with an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxide base in a solvent system which is substantially inert to said base and which comprises a polar, aprotic solvent with a dielectric constant in the range of from about 30 to about 70 and a non-nucleophilic hydroxy-containing solvent which increases the solubility of said base in the solvent system whereby a phenate is obtained and, if a phenol is the desired product, reacting the phenate with an acid to form the phenol. n<??>The phenates or phenols obtainable by the novel process may be used as intermediates in the preparation of trifluoromethylphenyl nitrophenylether herbicides optionally containing one or two additional ring substituents |