BHT is produced (Scheme 5) by reacting chlorine with toluene (13) under catalytic conditions to form p-chlorotoluene. (14), which is then reacted under basic conditions to form p-cresol (15). An alternative synthesis of p-cresol (15) involves the reaction of cymene 17), followed by oxidation to p-cresol isobutylene (18) under acidic conditions to form BHT (19).