Mechanism of the CuCl/O2-mediated Oxygenation of Naphtholes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/ardp.19883210309

The mechanism of the oxygenation of 1- and 2-naphthole derivatives in the system (1+) + O2 <=> .>(1) + L, depending on solvent (L) and temp., is studied.It was possible to distinguish between reactions via the radical ion pair type (L=CH3CN) and hydrogen abstraction via free radicals (L=CH3OH).There is marked difference between the oxygen transfer to the naphthole derivatives and the oxygenation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (6), which does not depend characteristically on L and temp.