The Oxidation of Methylbenzenes and Naphthalenes to Quinones with H2O2 in the Presence of Palladium Catalyst

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/bcsj.59.2881

Methylbenzenes and naphthalenes were oxidized to quinones with aqueous(60percent) H2O2 in acetic acid in the presence of a 0.24 wtpercent Pd(II)-sulfonated polystyrene type resin.The selectivities to quinones were higher in naphthalenes than in methylbenzenes.Among the naphthalenes used, 2-methylnaphthalene, 2,3-dimethylnaphthalene, and 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene gave 1,4-quinones in good yields (50-64percent).The increase in the reaction temperature increased the selectivity to quinones from 40percent at 20 deg C to 70percent at 70 deg C.