The main object of the present invention is to provide a producing method for a 4-isopropyl-3-methylphenol which may be selectively produced, easily refined, and with less odor and coloration. The present invention achieves the object by providing a producing method for a 4-isopropyl-3-methylphenol characterized in that a 4-halogenated-3-methylphenol or a phenol derivative thereof is reacted with an isopropyl metal compound under presence of a catalyst and a solvent.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a producing method for a 4-isopropyl-3-methylphenol which may be selectively produced, easily refined, and with less odor and coloration. The present invention achieves the object by providing a producing method for a 4-isopropyl-3-methylphenol characterized in that a 4-halogenated-3-methylphenol or a phenol derivative thereof is reacted with an isopropyl metal compound under presence of a catalyst and a solvent.

A vinylbenzylated phenol compound represented by General Formula (1) below is provided.

##STR00001##

(In General Formula (1), Ar.sup.0 is a bifunctional phenol compound residue having one or more monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic nuclei, R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 may be the same or different and are each hydrogen or a methyl group, and p is an integer of 1 to 4.)

A vinylbenzylated phenol compound represented by General Formula (1) below is provided.

##STR00001##

(In General Formula (1), Ar.sup.0 is a bifunctional phenol compound residue having one or more monocyclic or polycyclic aromatic nuclei, R.sup.1 to R.sup.5 may be the same or different and are each hydrogen or a methyl group, and p is an integer of 1 to 4.)

A method of alkylating or acylating an arene includes reacting the arene with an organic halide in the presence of an aprotic solvent and a catalyst of formula (I)

MR.sup.1.sub.mX.sub.n.Z(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)(I)

wherein M is Al, Ga, or Fe; R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl; m is 0 or 1; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkyl; each occurrence of X is independently a halogen; n is 2 or 3; the sum of m and n is 3; and Z is S or O. When M is Al, then m is 1, n is 2, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently substituted with at least one electron-withdrawing group. When M is Ga or Fe, then m is 0 and n is 3.

A method of alkylating or acylating an arene includes reacting the arene with an organic halide in the presence of an aprotic solvent and a catalyst of formula (I)

MR.sup.1.sub.mX.sub.n.Z(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)(I)

wherein M is Al, Ga, or Fe; R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl; m is 0 or 1; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkyl; each occurrence of X is independently a halogen; n is 2 or 3; the sum of m and n is 3; and Z is S or O. When M is Al, then m is 1, n is 2, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently substituted with at least one electron-withdrawing group. When M is Ga or Fe, then m is 0 and n is 3.

A method of alkylating or acylating an arene includes reacting the arene with an organic halide in the presence of an aprotic solvent and a catalyst of formula (I)

MR.sup.1.sub.mX.sub.n.Z(R.sup.2)(R.sup.3)(I)

wherein M is Al, Ga, or Fe; R.sup.1 is C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl; m is 0 or 1; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkyl; each occurrence of X is independently a halogen; n is 2 or 3; the sum of m and n is 3; and Z is S or O. When M is Al, then m is 1, n is 2, and R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are each independently substituted with at least one electron-withdrawing group. When M is Ga or Fe, then m is 0 and n is 3.