Content Handbook E

Outline of method

o-Cresol is chlorinated to produce 6-chloro-o-cresol. The chlorinated o-cresols are separated from o-cresol by fractional distillation. The chlorinated o-cresols are then converted to their corresponding acetyl derivatives, and the compound 6-chloro-o-tolyl acetate is separated by fractional distillation, hydrolysed to the free cresol, and recrystallized.