Selective Indirect Oxidation of Phenol to Hydroquinone and Catechol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00210a029

The introduction of a hydroxyl function into phenol to give hydroquinone and catechol can be achieved in high yields by the reaction of hydrogen peroxide with alkenylphenols.These alkenylphenols are obtained by thermolysis of bisphenol A, alkylation of phenol with cyclopentadiene followed by isomerization, and alkylation of phenol with mesityl oxide followed by thermolysis to give 4-isopropenylphenol, 2- and 4-(cyclopenten-1-yl)phenol, and 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-chromene, respectively.