| abstract |
A process for the preparation of a compound of formula (I> <IMAGE> wherein R<1> represents hydrogen or the group COR<2>, wherein R<2> represents straight or branched chained alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms optionally substituted with phenyl, naphthyl, tetrahydronaphthyl or m-phenoxy-benzyl; cycloalkyl having 3 to 6 carbon atoms optionally substituted with one or more straight or branched chained alkyl or alkenyl groups having up to 6 carbon atoms; or phenyl or naphthyl, comprises a) reacting an ester of formula (II), <IMAGE> wherein X represents chlorine or bromine and R<2> is as defined above, with an alkali metal salt of phenol and b) if desired converting the diphenyl ether so obtained to m-phenoxybenzyl alcohol by the hydrolysis of the ester group. |