A method for carrying out a reaction of one substance capable of being activated
by a catalyst with another substance capable of reacting with said one substance
activated, characterized in that the substance capable of being activated is activated
by passing the substance through a diaphragm type catalyst and the reaction is
thus performed in one reaction step; a method for producing an aromatic alcohol
utilizing the above method; and a reaction apparatus suitable for these reactions.
In the method, one substance is activated by passing through a diaphragm type catalyst
and an objective reaction is carried out by using the activated substance, and
the reaction can be performed in one reaction step and with safety. Moreover, the
contact of the above activated substance with a compound to be reacted therewith
can be freely controlled, and therefore, over-reaction can be prevented and an
objective product can be produced in high yield. The method is thus markedly advantageous
from an economical view point as a commercial process for producing oxygen-containing
organic compounds such as an aromatic alcohol, a ketone, an aldehyde, a carboxylic
acid and an epoxide.
