Patent ID: 8558029

Claim:
A continuous, nonaqueous process for producing phenolic glycol ether, the process comprising the steps of (A) contacting under isothermal reactive conditions in a first reactor or reaction zone an alkylene oxide with (i) a stoichiometric molar excess of a phenolic compound, and (ii) a catalytic amount of a base homogeneously dispersed throughout the phenolic compound, to form a first intermediate phenolic glycol ether product, (B) transferring the first intermediate phenolic glycol ether product to a second reactor or reaction zone, and (C) subjecting the first intermediate phenolic glycol ether product to adiabatic reactive conditions at an exit temperature greater than that of step (A) in the second reactor or reaction zone to form a second intermediate phenolic glycol ether product comprising phenolic glycol ether, unreacted phenolic compound, catalyst, water and byproduct glycols, wherein the phenolic glycol ether comprises mono-alkyl phenolic glycol ether and di-alkyl glycol phenolic ether and the ratio of mono-alkyl phenolic glycol ether to di-alkyl glycol phenolic ether is determined by the amount of the base.