Optionally substituted phenol preparation, for use e.g. as polymer or herbicide intermediate, by hydroxylation of optionally substituted benzene with nitrous oxide under liquid phase or supercritical conditions

摘要

Preparation of optionally substituted phenol (I), by reacting optionally substituted benzene (II) with nitrous oxide (N2O) under elevated temperature and pressure in presence of a catalyst. The process is carried out at N2O pressure 5-200 bars and 150-350 deg C in liquid phase or under supercritical conditions for N2O in presence of a solid catalyst (III). Preparation of optionally substituted phenols of formula (I) involves reacting optionally substituted benzene of formula (II) with nitrous oxide (N2O) at 150-350 deg C and N2O pressure 5-200 bars in a liquid phase or under supercritical conditions for N2O, in presence of a solid catalyst (III). R1, R2 = H, halo, 1-5C alkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl or functional group containing O, halogen or N.