FIELD: industrial organic synthesis.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to production of alkylaryl hydroperoxides useful as starting material in production of propylene oxide and alkenylaryl. Process of invention comprises following stages: oxidation of alkylaryl compound to form reaction product containing alkylaryl hydroperoxide; contacting at least part of reaction product with basic aqueous solution; separation of hydrocarbon phase containing alkylaryl hydroperoxide from aqueous phase; containing at least part of above hydrocarbon phase with aqueous solution containing waste water, said aqueous solution containing less than 0.2% alkali metal and/or salt (determined as ratio of metal component to total amount of solution); and separation of hydrocarbon phase from aqueous phase. By bringing at least part of above hydrocarbon phase containing alkylaryl hydroperoxide into interaction with propylene and catalyst, alkylaryl hydroxide and propylene oxide are obtained. At least part of propylene oxide is then separated from alkylaryl hydroxide. Dehydration of at least part of alkylaryl hydroxide results in formation of alkenylaryl.
EFFECT: reduced amount of contaminating by-products in alkylaryl hydroperoxide preparation stage.
8 cl, 4 ex
