Oxidation of toluenes to benzoic acids by oxygen in non-acidic solvents

Oxidation of substituted toluenes by molecular oxygen at one atmosphere to the corresponding substituted benzoic acids in nonacidic solvents was investigated. Satisfactory oxidation of halo-, methoxy-, and cyano-toluenes were achieved using Co(C18H35O2)(2)/NH4Br or Co(OAc)(2)/NaBr/AcOH as catalysts in the presence of a radical initiator. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.