Hydroxylation of substituted diatomic phenols and their derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF02494504

Oxidation of 3,6-di-tert-butylpyrocatechol in protic media is accompanied by the formation of 3,6-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy-para-benzoquinone. Hydroxylation of the 3,5-isomer results in dealkylation and isomerization with the formation of 6-tert-butyl-2-hydroxypora-benzoquinone and the quinone mentioned above, respectively. Their ratio depends on the nature of the solvent. Analogous processes accompany redox transformations of 2,6-di-tert-butylhydroquinone, 2,6-diphenyl-para-benzoquinone, and 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenol adsorbed on silica gel. Derivatives of 3,5-substituted pyrocatechols formed under conditions of heterophase oxidation in air are capable of transformations to form nitrogen-containing compounds.