ether oxygen, the ion falls apart into phenol and acetone. Related reactions and modifications Alternatives to acetone co-production Cyclohexylbenzene can replace isopropylbenzene. Via the Hock rearrangement, cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide cleaves to give phenol and cyclohexanone. Cyclohexanone is an important precursor to some nylons. Starting with the alkylation of benzene with mixture of 1 and 2-butenes, the cumene process produces phenol and butanones. Alternatives to phenol production Hydroquinone is prepared by dialkylation of benzene with propene to give 1,4-diisopropylbenzene. This compound reacts with air to afford the bis(hydroperoxide). Analogous to the behavior of cumene hydroperoxide, it rearranges in acid to give acetone and hydroquinone. Oxidation of hydroquinone gives 1,4-benzoquinone: C6H4(CHMe2)2 + 2 1/2 O2 -> C6H4O2 + 2 OCMe2 + H2O Resorcinol is analogously prepared by converting 1,3-Diisopropylbenzene into the bis(hydroperoxide), which fragments to resorcinol and acetone. 2-Naphthol can also be produced by a method analogous to the cumene process. 3-Chlorophenol, which does not arise by chlorination of phenol, can be produced by Cumene process beginning with the alkylation of chlorobenzene with propylene. Cresols are produced from isopropyltoluene. Acetone processing Crude acetone is hydrogenated in the liquid phase over Raney nickel or a mixture of copper and chromium oxide to give isopropyl alcohol. This process is useful, when it is coupled with excess acetone production. Mitsui & Co. developed additional step(s) to hydrogenating acetone and dehydrogenating the isopropanol product to propene, which is recycled as a starting reactant. Byproducts Byproducts of the cumene process to produce phenol and acetone are acetophenone and alpha-methylstyrene. See also Bisphenol A Dow process Friedel Crafts alkylation Baeyer–Villiger oxidation Raschig–Hooker process (also produces phenol) References External links Phenol -- The essential chemical industry online Chemical processes