Synthesis: Phenol (54.0 mol) and zinc chloride (100 g) were added to the reactor and stirred until well mixed. Subsequently, p-hydroxyacetophenone (6.5 mol) was slowly added over 40 minutes, warmed to 60°C and maintained at this temperature for 60 minutes. Concentrated hydrochloric acid (100 mL) was added and the reaction was continued with stirring for 8 hours. After completion of the reaction, the temperature was lowered to 20 °C, dichloroethane was added and filtered with thorough stirring. The filter cake was dried under vacuum at 55 °C for 6 h. The crude product 1,1,1-tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethane (THPE) was obtained as 1811 g. The purity of the crude product was 95.0% and the yield was 91.1%. Purification method: the crude product (1000 g) prepared above was added into methanol (2000 mL), heated until completely dissolved and then cooled, slowly added into water (1600 mL), stirred at room temperature for 50 minutes, a light yellow product was obtained. Filtered and dried. The dried product was dissolved in methanol (1200 mL), heated to complete dissolution and added activated carbon to decolorize, filtered and evaporated the solvent to obtain a solid. The obtained solid was dissolved in methanol (1000 mL), and a mixed solution of sodium borohydride (5 g) and sodium sulfite (35 g) was slowly added, and the light yellow powder gradually precipitated. The solid obtained was filtered and dried under vacuum at 25 °C for 10 h. The purified product was obtained as 913 g in 91.3% yield and 99.5% purity by HPLC analysis.
