Formation of dimer-type ketals in the reaction of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and 2,4,6-trichloro-m-cresol with calcium hypochlorite in methanol: conversion to quinones and other compounds.

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (2) and 2,4,6-trichloro-m-cresol (5) react with calcium hypochlorite (Ca(OCl)(2)) in MeOH to give respectively dimer-type ketals 2-(2',4',6'-trichlorophenoxy)-4,4-dimethoxy-6-chlorocyclohexadien-2,5-one (6) and 2-(3'-methyl-2',4',6'-trichlorophenoxy)-4,4-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-chlorocyclohexadien-2,5-one (7). Ketal 6, which was too unstable to be isolated, and 7 hydrolyzed in H(2)O/HCl to 2-(2',4',6'-trichlorophenoxy)-6-chloro-1,4-benzoquinone (8) and 2-(3'-methyl-2',4',6'-trichlorophenoxy)-5-methyl-6-chloro-1,4-benzoquinone (9), respectively. Ketal 6 and quinone 8 were also produced when 2 and Ca(OCl)(2) reacted in DMF, followed by addition of MeOH and H(2)O, respectively.