A composition comprising a compound of formula (Va) wherein n is 1 or 2 and wherein m is 1 or 2, with n and m preferably both being 1 or both being 2, more preferably both being 1, and/or, preferably and, a compound of formula, wherein n is 1 or 2 and wherein m is 1 or 2, with n and m preferably both being 1 or both being 2, more preferably both being 1, and wherein at least 90 weight-% of the composition consist of compounds of formula (Va) and formula (Vb). ##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a method of preparing ortho substituted phenols from 2,5-dimethylfuran and propargyl ethers in the presence of a gold(I) complex. It is particularly advantageous to use 2,5-dimethylfuran as this offers an ecological beneficial synthesis of said ortho substituted phenols.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing ortho substituted phenols from 2,5-dimethylfuran and propargyl ethers in the presence of a gold(I) complex. It is particularly advantageous to use 2,5-dimethylfuran as this offers an ecological beneficial synthesis of said ortho substituted phenols.

A phenylene ether oligomer is prepared by a process that includes partially converting 2,6-dimethylphenol to 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-4,4-dihydroxybiphenyl and/or 3,3,5,5-tetramethyldiphenoquinone, converting the residual 2,6 dimethylphenol to poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) and any 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-4,4-dihydroxybiphenyl to 3,3,5,5-tetramethyldiphenoquinone, and reacting the poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) and 3,3,5,5-tetramethyldiphenoquinone to form the phenylene ether oligomer. The preparation can be conducted without isolation of intermediates.

##STR00001## ##STR00002## ##STR00003##

A phenylene ether oligomer is prepared by a process that includes partially converting 2,6-dimethylphenol to 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-4,4-dihydroxybiphenyl and/or 3,3,5,5-tetramethyldiphenoquinone, converting the residual 2,6 dimethylphenol to poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) and any 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-4,4-dihydroxybiphenyl to 3,3,5,5-tetramethyldiphenoquinone, and reacting the poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) and 3,3,5,5-tetramethyldiphenoquinone to form the phenylene ether oligomer. The preparation can be conducted without isolation of intermediates.

##STR00001## ##STR00002## ##STR00003##

A phenylene ether oligomer is prepared by a process that includes partially converting 2,6-dimethylphenol to 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-4,4-dihydroxybiphenyl and/or 3,3,5,5-tetramethyldiphenoquinone, converting the residual 2,6 dimethylphenol to poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) and any 3,3,5,5-tetramethyl-4,4-dihydroxybiphenyl to 3,3,5,5-tetramethyldiphenoquinone, and reacting the poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) and 3,3,5,5-tetramethyldiphenoquinone to form the phenylene ether oligomer. The preparation can be conducted without isolation of intermediates.

##STR00001## ##STR00002## ##STR00003##

A composition comprising a compound of formula (Va) wherein n is 1 or 2 and wherein m is 1 or 2, with n and m preferably both being 1 or both being 2, more preferably both being 1, and/or, preferably and, a compound of formula, wherein n is 1 or 2 and wherein m is 1 or 2, with n and m preferably both being 1 or both being 2, more preferably both being 1, and wherein at least 90 weight-% of the composition consist of compounds of formula (Va) and formula (Vb).

##STR00001##

A composition comprising a compound of formula (Va) wherein n is 1 or 2 and wherein m is 1 or 2, with n and m preferably both being 1 or both being 2, more preferably both being 1, and/or, preferably and, a compound of formula, wherein n is 1 or 2 and wherein m is 1 or 2, with n and m preferably both being 1 or both being 2, more preferably both being 1, and wherein at least 90 weight-% of the composition consist of compounds of formula (Va) and formula (Vb).

##STR00001##

A composition comprising a compound of formula (Va) wherein n is 1 or 2 and wherein m is 1 or 2, with n and m preferably both being 1 or both being 2, more preferably both being 1, and/or, preferably and, a compound of formula, wherein n is 1 or 2 and wherein m is 1 or 2, with n and m preferably both being 1 or both being 2, more preferably both being 1, and wherein at least 90 weight-% of the composition consist of compounds of formula (Va) and formula (Vb).

##STR00001##

The invention relates to a method for producing 2,3,5-trimethyl benzoquinone or a compound containing 2,3,5-trimethyl benzoquinone, the method comprising the following steps: Oxidation of 2,3,6-trimethylphenol with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in a two- or multi-phase reaction medium in the presence of a catalyst or catalyst system containing at least one copper (II)-halide to a mixture containing 2,3,5-trimethyl benzoquinone, characterized in that the reaction medium contains water and at least one secondary aliphatic acyclic alcohol having 6 or more, preferably 7 or more, carbon atoms.