Selective oxidn of methyl group of benzene hydrocarbon - - by molecular oxygen in lower carboxylic acid at elevated temp

摘要

Selective oxidn. of the methyl substituent of a benzene structure carrying a nuclear methyl substituent and a higher alkyl substituent in which the C atom attached to the benzene structure carries sec. or tert. H atoms is effected by heating the benzene structure with O2 in presence of cobaltic ions, in a lower carboxylic acid at 85-135 degrees C., the amount of cobaltic ions being at least 0.6% wt. based on lower carboxylic acid, the oxidn. being effected in the absence of butane. Method gives high yields of the desired pdt. from cpds. such as p-cymene, p-ethyltoluene or sec. butyl-toluene.