Fe(III)-EDTA mediated autoxidation of 2,6-di-t-butylphenol and substituted hydroquinones by molecular oxygen

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(00)73327-2

Fe(III)-EDTA in aq. MeOH offers a simple environmentally acceptable synthetic tool to oxidize 2,6-di-t-butylphenol to 3,3',5,5'-tetra-t-butyl- 4,4'-diphenoquinone by molecular oxygen with 100% selectivity and several alkyl-substituted hydroquinones to their quinones, in excellent yields, under mild conditions.