2, 6-Di-t-butyl-p-ethylphenol (DBPEP) finds commercial application as an antioxidant in polyethylene packaging films. It is made by reacting p-ethylphenol (PEP) with isobutylene under acidic conditions. PEP, available only from overseas sources, is made by dated technology which is energy intensive and which generates large quantities of phenol contaminated wastes. The object of this search is to define an alternate synthesis of DBPEP using 2, 6-Di-tbutylphenol (DBP) as the starting material. DBP is readily available from domestic sources at relatively low cost. The problem to be solved is to find a way to alkylate a phenol under conditions that tert-butyl groups do not leave or migrate to other positions on the aromatic ring as would occur if a conventional acid catalyzed reaction was used. Several routes using alkaline conditions will be investigated.The potential commercial application as described by the awardee: This research is directed toward the commercial manufacture of DBPEP using DBP as the starting material. If successful it will eliminate the need to import PEP resulting in an increase of $500,000 to GNP.
