FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
[39 OF 1970]
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See Section 10; rule 13]
"PREPARATION OF 2-(4-ETHOXYPHENYL)-2-METHYLPROPYL ALCOHOL"
ISAGRO (ASIA) AGROGHEMICALS PRIVATE LIMITED, a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956, having its registered office at 101/102, Ground Floor, Solitaire Corporate Park, 151, M. Vasanji Road, Chakala, Andheri (East), Mumbai, India,
The following specification particularly describes the nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:-

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5 Technical Field p
The present invention relates- to/the preparation of 2^(4
ethoxyphenyl)- 2- methyl propyl alcohol of the formula I,

10
and the alcohol of Formula I so prepared. The alcohol of Formula I is a key intermediate for the synthesis of insecticide 3-phenoxybenzyl-2(4-ethoxyphenyl]-2-methyl propyl ether (known as Etofenprox] of the formula II,
15


H5C2O

CH.
.(II)

20

Background Art:
The preparation of Etofenprox of formula II from the alcohol of formula
I is well known, see for instance Indian Patent No. 155235 .of Mitsuitoatsu Chemicals Inc, Japan.
WO 01/44151 PCT/IN99/00072
Aromatic substituted aliphatic alkanols are useful .compounds in
several kinds of industrial applications e.g. as an intermediate in the
synthesis of agrochemicals especially pesticides.
5 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyrpropyl alcohol of Formula I, one such aromatic-substituted aliphatic' alkanol, is an important intermediate for the synthesis of the insecticide 3-phenoxybenzyl-2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propyl ether (etofenprox) of the formula II.
10
Etofenprox has been known to possess remarkable insecticidal and acaricidal properties. Also, it is fast acting and it exhibits no side effects, can be used easily on a variety of crops and has been found to have negligent toxicity on human beings,. animals and fish.
15
An enormous interest in research for new, safe and efficient process for the synthesis of etofenprox has therefore consequently propelled research interests for key intermediates leading to the manufacture of etofenprox. Compound of Formula I is one such intermediate.

20
Prior art citations show that alcohol of formula I has been prepared by several routes. One such method is illustrated in the accompanying
Figs, la and lb [Indian Patent 155235. Rocniki. Chem. 39(9): 1223 (1965): Chemical Abstract 64: 12595hl. The reaction of aryl
25. acetonitrile with alkyl halide by this method pose difficulties in
selective dialkylation and normally results in the formation of a
2

WO 01/44151 "PCT/IN99/00072
mixture of monoalkyl and dialkyl compounds which necessitates
laborious, purification and separation procedures. The process is also
not feasible for industrial scale manufacture.
5 Another route for the synthesis of alcohol (I) is as shown in Fig.2 (Chem. Ber. 94 2609 (1961): J. Am. Chem. Soc. 65. 1469(1943). This process is difficult to carry out on an industrial scale as it involves separation of several bi-products formed during the course of reaction.
10 Furthermore, alcohol of the formula 1 may be prepared according to -the' processes disclosed in Helvetica Chimia Acta 54. 868(1971), Chemical Abstract 116: 15132t. Chemical Abstract 99: 175367w, Chemical Abstract 114: 121721: Chemical Abstract 113: 152017s: Chemical Abstract 101: 110523; and Chemical Abstract 115:
15 255788v. These processes employ either hazardous chemicals or
expensive reagents thereby increasing the total cost of manufacture.
Moreover, alcohol (I) obtained by -some of the above-mentioned
procedures is of low purity.
20 An object of this invention is to provide a process for the preparation
of 2-'(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propyl alcohol (I)
which is simple," safe, easy to carry out, efficient and less time
consuming.

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Another object of this invention is to produce 3-phenoxybenzyl-2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl 'propyl ether (etofenprox] of Formula II, an insecticide, . from 2- (4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propyl alcohol of Formula I so prepared.
5
Disclosure of Invention:
Thus, according to the present invention there is provided a process for the preparation of 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl}-2-methyl propyl alcohol (formula I) comprising the steps of:
10
(a) acylating phenol to give phenyl isobutyrate;
(b) subjecting said phenyl isobutyrate to Fries rearrangement to give 4-hydroxyphenyl -4-methylethyl ketone;
(c) ethylating said 4-hydroxyphenyl-c{-methylethyl ketone to give 4-ethoxyphenyl-4- methylethyl ketone;
15 (d) halogenating said 4-ethoxyphenyl –2- methylethyl ketone to give 4
ethoxyphenyl :p(- halo -2- methylethyl ketone;
(e) converting said halo ketone to halo ketal, subjecting said
ketal to rearrangement to obtain an intermediate and
hydrolysing the said intermediate to obtain 2-(4-
20 ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid;
(f) converting said 2-{4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid to 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid alkyl ester, and

WO 01/44151 PCT/IN99/00072
(g) "treating said alkyl ester with an alkali metal in the
presence of an alcohol to give 2-{4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methy]
propyl alcohol:
The acylation step (a) may be carried put with isobutyryl halide in the
5 presence of a ' suitable organic solvent and a base at a low temperature, preferably from -15 to 50°C, more preferably from -5 to. 5"C. The isobutyryl halide may preferably be isobutyryl chloride. The solvent may be' an aprotic organic solvent, preferably a halogenated organic solvent such as, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform,
10 bromoform, tetrachloroethane, ethylene dichloride, ethylene dibromide or the like. The base may be a tertiary amine such as triethylamine, triethanolamine or pyridine or any inorganic base such as NaOH, KOH,. K2CO3, NaS2CO3, .NaHCO3. KHCO3 or the like. The Fries rearrangement step (b) may be carried out in the presence of a Lewis
15 acid such as AlCl3, ZnCL2, FeCL3, BF3 -etherate, TiCI4 or the like and a solvent such as CCl4, ethylene dichloride, chloroform, tetrachloro ethane, or the like.: Preferably, said Lewis acid may be AICL, and said solvent may be carbon tetrachloride. The ethylation step (c) may be carried out in the presence of a base and an ethylating agent. The
20 base may be a suitable organic or inorganic base such as triethyl amine, pyridine, NaOH, KOH, K2CO3 Na2CO3 or the like. The ethylating agent may be ethyl chloride, ethyl bromide, ethyl iodide or diethyl sulphate- The ethylation may preferably be carried out in the presence of aqueous NaOH and .diethyl sulphate at 45-100°C,
25 preferably 50-60°C. The halogenation-step (d) may be bromination
5

WO 01/44151 PCT/IN99/00072
using a source of bromine such as liquid bromine, N-bromo succinimide or the like, preferably liquid bromine, in the presence of a halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon such as carbon tetrachloride. ethylene dichloride, tetrachloroethane, or the like,, preferably carbon
5 tetrachloride. The step (e) may comprise treating .'4-{ethoxyphenyl) -W-halo -2- methylethyl ketone with monoethylene glycol in the presence of a Lewis acid, preferably para-toluenesulphonic acid, at 95-105°~C, treating the halo' ketal formed with a zinc salt such as zinc chloride, zinc acetate, zinc oxide or zinc bromide in the presence of an aromatic
10 hydrocarbon such as toluene, benzene or xylene, hydrolysing the ester formed with methanolic alkali followed by acidification with a mineral acid such as HCl; H2SO4, or glacial acetic acid, and isolating the 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid formed.. The step (f) may comprise treating -2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic, acid with an
15 alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, propanol; butanol or the like, preferably methanol, in the presence of an acid such as sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid or the like, preferably sulphuric acid, at 60 -70°'C to give 2-{4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid alkyl ester. The step (g) may comprise treating 2-(4-
20 ethoxyphenyl]-2-methyl propionic acid alkyl ester with an alkali metal such as sodium, potassium or lithium, preferably sodium, in the - presence of an alcohol, preferably aliphatic alcohol, to give 2-(4-ethoxy phenyl)-2-methyl propyl alcohol (I)'."The alcohol employed may be' a C2 to C„ alcohol, preferably butanol.
25

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is
provided a method of preparation of 2- (4-ethoxyphenyl)-2- methyl
propyl alcohol (I),
5

10

H5C20
CH2OH
(I)
comprising;
(i) acylating phenol of formula III, with isobutyryl chloride at -5 to
5oC in the presence of a chlorinated organic solvent and a t-amine
base;

'. WO 01/44151 PCT/IN99/00072
to give phenyl isobutyrate of the formula IV,
■CH.

(IV)
(ii) Fries rearrangement of ester IV in the presence of AlCl3 and a
chlorinated organic solvent to give 4- hydroxyphenyl-p(- methylethyl
5 ketone of formula V.

(iii) ethylation of the ketone V, in. the presence of an alkali and diethyl sulphate at 25 - 65°C to give 4-ethoxyphenyl -2-methylethyl ketone VI,.
10

(iv) halogenating the ketone VI using a source of bromine at 27- 33oC
or a source of chlorine -at reflux temperatures, in presence of a
chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon with carbon chain length. varying
15 from C1 to C9 for example, carbon tetrachloride or tetrachloroethane or

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PCT/IN99/00072

to give phenyl isobutyrate of the formula IV,

(ii) Fries rearrangement of ester IV in the presence of AlCl3 and. a
chlorinated organic solvent to give 4- hydroxyphenyl-2- methylethyl
5 ketone of formula V.

(iii) ethylation of the ketone V, in the presence of an alkali and diethyl sulphate at 25 - 65°C to give 4-ethoxyphenyl" -2-methylethyl ketone VI,
10

(iv) halogenating the ketone VI using a source of bromine at 27- 33°C
or a source of chlorine at reflux temperatures, in presence of a
chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbon with carbon chain length varying
15 from C,' to C9 for example, carbon tetrachloride or tetrachloroethane or

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dichloroethane or chloroform, or the like, to give 4-ethoxyphenyl -2-halo -2 - methylethyl ketone VII,


H5C2O

X= CI, Br
' (VII)
(v) reacting the ketone VII with monoethyleneglycol in presence of
5 catalytic amount of para toluenesulphonic acid at 95- 105oC;
optionally, alongwith an organic, aromatic hydrocarbon and
subsequently with zinc salt as a catalyst in presence of an organic
solvent such as toluene, xylene-or benzene at 80- 95°C to isolate 2-(4-
ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid of the formula VIII, after
10 hydrolysis with an alkali in presence of methanol and subsequent
acidification with a mineral acid such as hydrochloric or sulphuric or
glacial acetic acid,


C—COOH
H5C2O

(VIII)
15 (vi). reacting VIII with methanol in presence of sulphuric acid at 60-70oC and then neutralizing with sodium carbonate, extracting the oily
9

WO 01/44151 PCT/IN99/00072
compound 2- (4- ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid methyl ester IX so formed with an organic solvent such as petroleum ether,

5 (vii) reacting ester IX with sodium metal in presence of an aliphatic alkanol to' give the desired compound 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl]-2-methyl propyl alcohol of the formula I.
The process according to the invention for preparing alcohol of the
10 formula I, as described herein above, is simple, easy and convenient to carry out. The neat reaction of ketone VII to the acid VIII via the ketal intermediate, in presence of- monoethyleneglycol and p-toluenesulphonic acid is speedy as against the processes hitherto known, and the reaction time is reduced to as low as 1/3rd of that
15 recommended in the prior art.
The process does hot employ any expensive chemicals or reagents. Further, this process can be applied for industrial scale manufacture of the alcohol [I].
20
Moreover, the process does not use any hazardous or explosive chemicals and therefore is safe. It gives compound I with 98 % purity (
10

WO 01/44151 PCT/IN99/00072
when analysed by gas chromatography]. The process therefore is efficient.
The following experimental examples are illustrative of the invention
5 but not limitative of the scope thereof.
Example I
Preparation of 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)- 2-methyl propyl alcohol (I)
10 190 g of IX (0.856 moles) was mixed with 1250 ml of n-butanol. To this solution heated at 90 - 1000C, 95.0 g of sodium pieces were added gradually. The temperature of the' reaction mixture recorded post' addition of sodium was 135°C. This reaction mixture was refluxed further for four hours and cooled to room temperature. The reaction
15 mixture was then quenched with water and the excess n- butanol was removed completely by azeotropic distillation. The reaction mass was later extracted with 1.0 L of n-hexane, the n-hexane layer was ' concentrated to 300 ml, later cooled to 5 - 10°C and aged for two hours. The solid was filtered (I) and dried (105 g, 98% purity when
20 analyzed by gas chromatography). It was characterized using 'H-NMR spectral data.

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'H-NMR data (DMSO-d6) : δ, 1.3 (singlet; 6H, protons a); § 1.4 (triplet; 3H; protons b); δ, 3.5 (singlet; 2H;-protons c); δ 3.9 (quartet; 2H; protons d];δ-6.8 (doublet; 2H; protons e); δ 7.2 (doublet; 2H; protons
5 . Example 2
Preparation of 2H4-ethoxyphenyl)-2 methyl propionic acid methyl ester (IX)
To 100 g of VIII (0.481 moles) was added 700 ml of methanol and 8 ml concentrated sulphuric acid. The reaction mixture- was refluxed for 5
10 hours and then subsequently cooled to room temperature. To this was added 18 g of sodium carbonate. The mixture later was concentrated at 50°C under vacuum. The residue thus obtained was diluted with 200 ml of water and extracted with 400. ml of petroleum ether. The petroleum ether layer was then dried over sodium sulphate and
15 concentrated to- obtain an oil characterized by spectroscopic studies as IX (95 g,
97% purity when analyzed by gas chromatography]. It was characterized using 'H-NMR spectral data.

20

12

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'H-NMR data (DMSO-d6)': δ 1.4.(triplet; 3H; protons a]; δ1.55 (singlet; 6H; protons b); δ 3.4 (singlet; 3H; protons c); δ 4.0 (quartet; 2H; protons d); δ 6.8 (doublet; 2H; protons e); δ7.3 (doublet; 2H;
5 protons f).
Example 3
Preparation of 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid (VIII)
10
To 190 g of VI dissolved in 350 ml of carbon tetrachloride at room temperature was added liquid bromine in an amount of 150 g over a period of 2 h. The reaction mixture was stirred for additional period of 2 h and then quenched with 35Q ml of cold water and the whole was
15 stirred for 10 minutes. The organic. layer was separated put from which the solvent was removed under reduced pressure to obtain 250.0 g of a solid product VII.
To 160 g (0.590 moles) of VII was added, 100 ml of monoethylene
20 glycol and 7g of p-toluene sulphonic acid. The reaction mixture was
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WO 01/44151 PCT/IN99/00072
14
refluxed with continuous removal of water. This was then continued for. 7 - 9 hours at a temperature of 95 - 105°C. The reaction mixture was cooled to 90°C and 7g of zinc chloride was added followed by 600 ml of toluene and further refluxed the reaction mixture for a period of
5 2 hours. The reaction mixture was then cooled to room temperature and quenched with 400 ml of concentrated HCl. The organic layer was separated and washed .with 75 ml of water, and dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate and concentrated under vacuum. To this residue was added 400 ml. of methanol and 100 g of caustic soda and the
10 whole was refluxed at 65°C for 3 hours. The solvent was removed and to the residue was added 400 ml of water. The reaction mixture was-then cooled to 10°C and acidified with dilute HCl to a pH of 2-3. The precipitated solid VIII was filtered and washed with water (2 x 150 ml) and then dried at a temperature below 65°C under vacuum. (58.3 g.
15 95% purity when analyzed by gas. chromatography]. It was characterized using 1H-NMR spectral data.'

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1H-NMR data (DMSO-d6) : δ1.4 (triplet; 3H; protons a); δ 1.5 (singlet;' 6H; protons b); δ 3.9' (quartet; 2H; protons c]; δ 6.7 (doublet; 2H; protons d); δ 7.3 (doublet; 2H; protons e); δ 10.5 (singlet; 1H; proton f).
5
Example 4
Preparation of 4-ethoxyphenyl-2 -methylethyl ketone (VI)
To 7.0 g (0.042 moles) of 4-hydroxyphenyl -2-methylethyl ketone V,
was added NaOH solution (3,5 g, 0.088 moles, 2 % w/v in water) and
10 warmed to 50°C. Diethyl sulphate (14 g; 0.091 moles) was introduced
at a temperature between 50 - 60°C and the temperature was
gradually increased to 95 - 100°C for 2 hours. This reaction mixture
was then poured into crushed ice and fresh carbon tetrachloride (100
ml) was added to ;this mixture. The two phases were separated. The
15 organic phase was washed with 10%'w/v aqueous NaOH solution (100
ml) and then with water (100 ml). The carbon tetrachloride was
stripped off under vacuum to give 4-ethoxyphenyl- 2 -methylethyl
ketone VT (5.0 g; 80 % purity by GC). The compound VI was
characterized using 'H-NMR spectral data.

15

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'H-NMR spectral data (DMSO-d6) : δ1. I (doublet; 6H; protons a.); δ 1.4 (triplet; 3H; protons b]. δ 3.4 (multiplet; 1H; proton c]; δ-4.1 (quartet; 2H; protons d] ; δ 6.8 (doublet; 2H; aromatic protons e]; δ 7.8 (doublet; 2H; aromatic protons f].
5
Example 5
Preparation of 4-hydroxyphenyl-2-( -methylethyl ketone (V)
To a pre-cooled solution of 300 ml of carbon tetrachloride at 0°C was
10 added AlCl3, (52 g; 0.389 moles). Phenyl isobutyrate IV, (50 g; 0.305
moles) was gradually added into this solution and the mixture was
stirred at 29 - 31°C for 2.5 hours. The reaction mass was heated to 60
- 65°C for 3 hours and then cooled to 5°C and quenched "in crushed
ice and cone. HCl. The organic layer was washed with 500 ml each of
15 10% HCl and water to neutral PH. The organic layer was washed with
10% NaOH (1L). The two phases were separated. The aqueous phase
was acidified (300 ml of cone. HCl), extracted with ethyl acetate (500
ml) and the ethylacetate extract was washed with water (500 ml). The
organic layer was stripped off to give 4-hydroxyphenyl -2- methylethyl
20 ketone V, (10 g, 90 % Purity by GC). The compound V was
characterized using I H-NMR spectral data.
16

(V)
1H-NMR data (DMSO-d6) : £ 1-25. (doublet; 6H; protons a]; δ. 3.6 (multiplet; I H; proton b); δ 6.9 (doublet; 2H"; aromatic protons c); δ 7.9 (doublet- 2H; aromatic protons d]; δ 12.5. (singlet; 1H; proton e].
5
Example 6
Preparation of phenyl isobutyrate (IV)
To 100 g (.1.064 moles) of phenol III was added chilled carbon
10 tetrachloride (500 ml) gradually, then triethylamine 120 g (1.188
moles) followed by isobutyryl chloride . 130 g - (1.220 moles) at temperature less than 10°C. The reaction mixture was maintained at -1 to 3°C for 2 h and charged into crushed ice and cone. HCl (50 .ml). The contents were stirred and then transferred, into a separator. The
15 organic layer was collected and washed first with water, then with cone. HCl and finally with 10% NaOH (500 ml) and again with water . till free of base. The solvent was stripped off under vacuum to give phenyl isobutyrate IV (112 g; 95 % purity when analyzed by GC). The compound IV was characterized using 'H-NMR spectral data."
17

'H-NMR data (DMSO-d6) : g 1.3 (doublet; 6H; protons a); δ 2.8
5 (multiplet; IH; proton b); δ 6.8 - 7.5 (multiplet; 5H; aromatic protons
c]

WE CLAIM:
1. A process for the preparation of 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propylalcohol comprising the steps of:
(a) acylating phenol to give phenyl isobutyrate;
wherein the said acylation step is carried out with isobutyryl halide in the presence of a suitable an aprotic organic solvent and any tertiary amine base or any inorganic base at a low temperature preferably between -15°C to 50°C;
(b) subjecting said phenyl isobutyrate to Fries rearrangement to
give 4-hydroxyphenyl-x-methyl ethyl ketone;
wherein the Fries rearrangement step is carried out in the
presence of a Lewis acid such as AlCl3, ZnCl2, FeCl3, BF3-
etherate, TiCl4, or the like and a solvent such as CCl4, ethylene
dichloride, chloroform, tetrachloro ethane or the like;
ethylating said 4-hydroxyphenyl-x-methyl ethyl ketone to give
4-ethoxyphenyl-x-methyl ethyl ketone;
wherein the ethylation step (c) is carried out in the presence of a
suitable organic or inorganic base and an ethylating agent at
temperature between 45°C - 100°C;
(d) halogenating said 4-ethoxyphenyl-x-methyl ethyl ketone to give 4-
ethoxyphenyl ..x-halo-x-methyl ethyl ketone;
wherein the halogenation step (d) is bromination, using a source of bromine such as liquid bromine, N-bromo succinimide or the like, in the presence of a halogenated aliphatic

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hydrocarbon such as carbontetrachloride, ethylyene dichloride, tetrachloroethane, or the like;
(e) converting said halo ketone to halo ketal, subjecting said ketal
to rearrangement to obtain an intermediate and hydrolysing the
said intermediate to obtain 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl
propionic acid;
wherein said step comprises treating 4-(ethoxyphenyl) -x- halo-x-methyl ethyl ketone with mono ethylene glycol in the presence of a Lewis acid, at 95-105°C, treating the halo ketal formed with a zinc salt such as zinc chloride, zinc oxide, zinc acetate, or zinc bromide in the presence of an aromatic hydrocarbon such as toluene, benzene or xylene, hydrolyzing the ester formed with methanolic alkali followed by acidification with a mineral acid such as HCl, H2SO4 or glacial acetic acid, and isolating the 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid formed.
(f) converting said 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid to 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid alkyl ester, wherein said step (f) comprises treating 2 - (4 - ethoxyphenyl) - 2 - methyl propionic acid with an alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol or the like, in the presence of an acid such as sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid or the like, at 60°C to 70°C to give 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid alkyl ester, and
(g) treating said alkyl ester with an alkali metal in the presence of an alcohol to give 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propyl alcohol,

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wherein said step (g) comprises treating 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid alkyl ester with an alkali metal such as sodium, potassium or lithium, in the presence of an alcohol.
2. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein at the said acylation step (a), the said isobutyryl halide is isobutyryl chloride.
3. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 2, wherein said aprotic organic solvent is, preferably a halogenated organic solvent, such as, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform bromoform, tetrachloroethane, ethylene dichloride, ethylene dibromide or the like.
4. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the said base is a tertiary amine base such as triethylamine, triethanolamine or pyridine or any inorganic base such as NaOH, KOH, K2CO3, Na2CO3, NaHCO3, KHCO3 or the like.
5. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein said acylation step (a) is carried out at a low temperature preferably between -15°C to 50°C, and more preferably between -5°C to 5°C.
6. The process as claimed in claims 1 to 5, wherein the Fries rearrangement step (b) is carried out with Lewis acid and the said Lewis acid is AlCl3.
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7. The process as claimed in claims 1 to 6, wherein the Fries rearrangement step (b) is carried out in a solvent and the said solvent is carbon tetrachloride.
8. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 7, wherein said ethylation step (c) is carried out in suitable organic base such as triethyl amine, pyridine, or inorganic base such as NaOH, KOH, K2CO3, Na2CO3 or the like.
9. The process as claimed in claims 1 to 8, wherein said ethylation step (c) the ethylating agent is ethyl chloride, ethyl bromide, ethyl iodide' or diethyl suphate.
10. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 9, wherein said ethylation step (c) is carried out in the presence of aqueous NaOH and diethyl suphate at temperature between 45°C to 100°C.
11. The process as claimed in claim 10, wherein said ethylation step (c) is carried out at temperature between 45°C to 100°C and more preferably at temperature between 50°C to 60°C.
12. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 11, wherein halognation (d) is bromination using a source of bromine, prererably, liquid bromine, in the presence of a halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbon preferably carbon tetrachloride.

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13. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 12, wherein said step (e) has use of a Lewis acid preferably para-toluenesuphonic acid, at 95°C to 105°C, treating the halo ketal formed with a zinc salt the presence of an aromatic hydrocarbon, hydrolyzing the ester formed with methanolic alkali followed by acidification with a mineral acid, and isolating the 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl) -2-methyl propionic acid formed.
14. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 13, wherein said step (f) has treating 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid with an alcohol preferably methanol, in the presence of an acid, preferably sulphuric acid, at 60°C to 70°C to give 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid alkyl ester.
15. The process as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 14, wherein said step (g) has treating 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propionic acid alkyl ester with an alkali metal, preferably sodium, in the presence of an alcohol, preferably aliphatic alcohol.
16. The process as claimed in claim 15, wherein said aliphatic alcohol is a C2 to C9 alcohol.
17. The process as claimed in claim 16, wherein said C2 to C8 alcohol is n-butanol.
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18. The process for the preparation of 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propyl alcohol, substantially as hereinbefore described and exemplified with reference to the foregoing Examples 1 to 6.
19. 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propyl alcohol, whenever prepared according to the process as claimed in any of the preceding claims 1 to 18.
20. 3-phenoxybenzyl-2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propyl ether whenever prepared from 2-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-2-methyl propyl alcohol as claimed in claim 19.

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