Choice of Manganese(III) Complexes for the Synthesis of 4,4'-Biphenyldiols and 4,4'-Diphenoquinones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.65.620

2,6-Disubstituted phenols are oxidized with tris(2,4-pentanedionato)manganese(III), , in glacial acetic acid to give the corresponding 4,4'-biphenyldiols in high yields, whereas similar reactions using manganase(III) acetate, , instead of quantitatively yield the corresponding 4,4'-diphenoquinones.Cross-coupling reactions of 2,6-di-t-butylphenol and other substituted phenols afford the corresponding cross-coupled 4,4'-biphenyldiols and 4,4'-diphenoquinones together with oxidation products derived from them starting phenols themselves.The advantageous use of and Mn(OAc)3> in the ubiqitous phenol coupling reaction is discussed.