The invention relates to a preparation method of an
ultraviolet absorbent intermediate etocrilene (ETO). The preparation method comprises the following steps of: 1, adding
benzophenone,
ethyl cyanoacetate, a catalyst and a water-insoluble
solvent into a
condensation reaction kettle, carrying out
backflow water distribution reaction for 12-15h, and then, cooling to 50-55 DEG C, wherein the excessive equivalent of the
ethyl cyanoacetate relative to the
benzophenone is 0.2-5; 2, washing the reaction liquid by using water, and separating the liquid to respectively obtain a
water layer and an
organic layer; distilling the recycled water at the
water layer at normal pressure, dissolving
distillation tailings by using a
solvent same as the
solvent used in the step 1, and then, replenishing a proper quantity of catalyst to obtain a product, wherein the distilled recycled water is used in the step 2, and the product is used in the step 1; and distilling the recycled solvent at the
organic layer at normal pressure, and carrying out reduced pressure
distillation to recycle the excessive
ethyl cyanoacetate, wherein the recycled solvent and ethyl cyanoacetate are used in the step 1; 3, carrying out reduced pressure
distillation on the distillation
tailings, adding 75-100% of
ethanol for crystallizing, and filtering to obtain the etocrilene; and 4, filtering a mother solution obtained in the step 3, recycling the
ethanol at normal pressure, and carrying out reduced pressure recycle on the
benzophenone and the etocrilene, wherein the recycled
ethanol is used in the step 3, and the recycled benzophenone and etocrilene are used in the step 1. The preparation method has the advantages of simplicity in operation, short production period, little environment
pollution, low
energy consumption, realization of
material recycling, and the like.