A process for preparing a compound, comprising contacting at least one acidic catalyst with: a. at least one (alk-1-enyl)alkoxyphenol, either comprising the formula: - wherein if R 1 is hydrogen (-H) then R 2 is independently methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R 3 is independently hydrogen (-H), hydroxy (-OH), methoxy (-OCH 3) or ethoxy (-OCH 2 CH 3); and - wherein if R 2 is hydrogen (-H) then R 1 is independently methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R 3 is independently hydroxy (-OH), methoxy (-OCH 3) or ethoxy (-OCH 2 CH 3); and - wherein R a is independently hydrogen (-H), methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R b is independently hydrogen (-H), methyl (-CH 3), ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3), hydroxymethyl (-CH 2 OH), methoxymethyl (-CH 2 OCH 3), methyl carboxylate, carboxymethyl or an ester, an amide or salt thereof; or selected from the group consisting of: isoferulic acid, ferulic acid, 5-hydroxyferulic acid and sinapic acid; and an ester, an amide, or salt thereof; and b. at least one alkoxyphenol comprising the formula: - wherein if R 4 is hydrogen (-H) then R 5 is independently methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R 6 is independently hydrogen (-H), hydroxy (-OH), methoxy (-OCH 3) or ethoxy (-OCH 2 CH 3); - wherein if R 5 is hydrogen (-H) then R 4 is independently methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R 6 is independently hydroxy (-OH), methoxy (-OCH 3) or ethoxy (-OCH 2 CH 3); wherein said acidic catalyst comprises an acid selected of the group consisting of a soluble acid, an acidic ion-exchange resin, an acidic clay and an acidic zeolite; and wherein said compound is a monomer of formula: - wherein R 1 -R 6, R a and R b are as defined herein for formula and formula; or R 1 - R 3, R a and R b correspond to the substituents of isoferulic acid, ferulic acid, 5-hydroxyferulic acid or sinapic acid; and an ester, an amide, or salt thereof when these compounds are used as the (alk-1-enyl)alkoxyphenol; and - wherein the bridging carbon group, connecting the two hydroxyl-substituted aryl groups, and the hydroxyl substituent (next to the alkoxy) on each aryl group are disposed ortho, meta or para to each other on the aryl group bearing the phenolic (-ArOH) functionality. a. at least one (alk-1-enyl)alkoxyphenol, either comprising the formula: - wherein if R 1 is hydrogen (-H) then R 2 is independently methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R 3 is independently hydrogen (-H), hydroxy (-OH), methoxy (-OCH 3) or ethoxy (-OCH 2 CH 3); and - wherein if R 2 is hydrogen (-H) then R 1 is independently methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R 3 is independently hydroxy (-OH), methoxy (-OCH 3) or ethoxy (-OCH 2 CH 3); and - wherein R a is independently hydrogen (-H), methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R b is independently hydrogen (-H), methyl (-CH 3), ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3), hydroxymethyl (-CH 2 OH), methoxymethyl (-CH 2 OCH 3), methyl carboxylate, carboxymethyl or an ester, an amide or salt thereof; or selected from the group consisting of: isoferulic acid, ferulic acid, 5-hydroxyferulic acid and sinapic acid; and an ester, an amide, or salt thereof; and - wherein if R 1 is hydrogen (-H) then R 2 is independently methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R 3 is independently hydrogen (-H), hydroxy (-OH), methoxy (-OCH 3) or ethoxy (-OCH 2 CH 3); and - wherein if R 2 is hydrogen (-H) then R 1 is independently methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R 3 is independently hydroxy (-OH), methoxy (-OCH 3) or ethoxy (-OCH 2 CH 3); and - wherein R a is independently hydrogen (-H), methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R b is independently hydrogen (-H), methyl (-CH 3), ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3), hydroxymethyl (-CH 2 OH), methoxymethyl (-CH 2 OCH 3), methyl carboxylate, carboxymethyl or an ester, an amide or salt thereof; b. at least one alkoxyphenol comprising the formula: - wherein if R 4 is hydrogen (-H) then R 5 is independently methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R 6 is independently hydrogen (-H), hydroxy (-OH), methoxy (-OCH 3) or ethoxy (-OCH 2 CH 3); - wherein if R 5 is hydrogen (-H) then R 4 is independently methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R 6 is independently hydroxy (-OH), methoxy (-OCH 3) or ethoxy (-OCH 2 CH 3); wherein said acidic catalyst comprises an acid selected of the group consisting of a soluble acid, an acidic ion-exchange resin, an acidic clay and an acidic zeolite; and - wherein if R 4 is hydrogen (-H) then R 5 is independently methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R 6 is independently hydrogen (-H), hydroxy (-OH), methoxy (-OCH 3) or ethoxy (-OCH 2 CH 3); - wherein if R 5 is hydrogen (-H) then R 4 is independently methyl (-CH 3) or ethyl (-CH 2 CH 3); and R 6 is independently hydroxy (-OH), methoxy (-OCH 3) or ethoxy (-OCH 2 CH 3); - wherein R 1 -R 6, R a and R b are as defined herein for formula and formula; or R 1 - R 3, R a and R b correspond to the substituents of isoferulic acid, ferulic acid, 5-hydroxyferulic acid or sinapic acid; and an ester, an amide, or salt thereof when these compounds are used as the (alk-1-enyl)alkoxyphenol; and - wherein the bridging carbon group, connecting the two hydroxyl-substituted aryl groups, and the hydroxyl substituent (next to the alkoxy) on each aryl group are disposed ortho, meta or para to each other on the aryl group bearing the phenolic (-ArOH) functionality.