Catalytic oxidation of 2,6-dialkylphenols to the corresponding 2,6-dialkyl-1,4-benzoquinones by molecular oxygen in the presence of P-Mo-V heteropoly acids

A new method for obtaining 2,6-dialkyl-1,4-benzoquinones by oxidation of 2,6-dimethyl and 2,6-ditertbutylphenols by molecular oxygen in a two-phase water-organic system and in the presence of P-Mo-V heteropoly acids has been proposed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.