Claims
        
                - 1. In a process for the preparation of 2,6-diphenylphenol, the steps comprising:
 
                - a. passing a reaction mixture consisting of an aqueous alkaline catalyst and a cyclic ketone selected from the group consisting of cyclohexanone and mixtures thereof with bicyclic condensation products of cyclohexanone successively through at least two condensation reactors in a condensation reactor zone wherein the reaction temperature is from 150.degree. to 200.degree. C.;
 
                - b. removing said condensation product from said reactor zone when it contains a maximum of 70% of tricyclic ketones by weight;
 
                - c. collecting and condensing the vapors above the condensation reactors in the reactor zone and passing the same to a decantor wherein a water phase and a cyclohexanone phase is formed;
 
                - d. separating said cyclohexanone phase from the water phase and recycling said cyclohexanone phase to the first condensation reactor in said reaction zone whereby it acts as a source of cyclohexanone and as a solvent for the reaction mixture;
 
                - e. cooling said condensation product as it leaves said reaction zone;
 
                - f. passing said condensation product to a neutralizer and neutralizing by adding an acid to form an aqueous phase and an organic phase;
 
                - g. separating said organic phase from said aqueous phase;
 
                - h. passing said organic phase through a first distillation column to remove water, a second distillation column to remove bicyclic autocondensation products of cyclohexanone which are recycled to the first condensation reactor, and a third distillation column to separate an isomeric mixture of tricyclic ketones from the remainder of the organic phase;
 
                - i. passing said isomeric mixture of tricyclic ketones through a dehydrogenation catalyst in a fixed bed dehydrogenation reactor maintained at a temperature from 240.degree. to 360.degree. C. to produce a mixture of 2,6-diphenylphenol and partially dehydrogenated by-products; and
 
                - j. recovering 2,6-diphenylphenol from said mixture.
 
                - 2. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein, in step (b), said condensation product is removed from said reaction zone when the content of tricyclic ketone therein is from 30 to 45% by weight.
 
                - 3. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the condensation temperature is from 170.degree. to 190.degree. C.; the dehydrogenation temperature is from 300.degree. to 350.degree. C.; and the dehydrogenation catalyst is platinum or palladium deposited on a substrate.
 
                - 4. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said alkaline catalyst is sodium hydroxide.
 
                - 5. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said dehydrogenation catalyst is platinum deposited on an alumina substrate.
 
                - 6. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein two condensation reactors in series are used in the reactor zone.
 
        
                
                        Parent Case Info
        This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 601,771, filed Dec. 14, 1966, now abandoned.
                
                
                
                            Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
            
                
                    
                        | Entry | 
                    
                
                
                        
                            | plesek, "Collection Czech. Chem. Communications," vol. 21, pp. 375-381, 1956. | 
                        
                
            
                        Continuations (1)
        
            
                
                     | 
                    Number | 
                    Date | 
                    Country | 
                
            
            
    
        | Parent | 
            601771 | 
        Dec 1966 | 
         |