Cresol oxidation

Significant quantities of the diphenoquinone are also produced if the ortho substituents are methoxy groups (36). Phenols with less than two ortho substituents produce branched and colored products from the reactions that occur at the open ortho sites. It is possible to minimize such side reactions in the case of o-cresol oxidation by using a bulky ligand on the copper catalyst to block the open ortho position (38). 

Orenes-Pinero E, Garcia-Carmona F and Sanchez-Ferrer A. 2005. A kinetic study of p-cresol oxidation by quince fruit polyphenol oxidase. J Agric Food Chem 53(4) 1196-1200. 

Ryu. K.. D.R. Stafford, and J.S. Dordick Peroxidase-Catalyzed Polymerization of Phenols Kinetics of p-Cresol Oxidation in Organic Media, in Biocatalysis in Agncultural Biotechnology, J.R. Whitake, ed. ACS Symp. Ser. No. 389. 

In order to more fully understand the effect of dioxane on peroxidase catalysis, we evaluated the kinetics of p-cresol oxidation in aqueous buffer — 0.25 p.g/mL peroxidase solutions dissolved in 5 mL aqueous buffer, pH 7, containing from 0.25-9.5 mM p-cresol and 0.25 mM H2O2... 

Scheme 26.2 Mechanism for cresol oxidation reactions. (From ref. 6.)...

Physical properties. All solid except m -cresol, CH3CJH4OH, which is a liquid. All colourless when pure, but frequently slightly coloured due to atmospheric oxidation. All have in varying degrees a characteristic odour of carbolic acid. Phenol, the cresols and resorcinol have a caustic action on the skin. 

In the 1960—1980 period, the use of more economical synthetic isopropyl- and /-butylphenols as alternatives to cresols was developed (98,99). Commercial triaryl phosphates such as FMC s Kronitex 100 and Ak2o s Phosflex 31P and 41B are based on partially isopropylated or /-butylated phenol. The relative volatihties and oxidative stabiUties of these phosphates have been compared the /-butylphenyl phosphates are the most oxidatively stable of the alkylphenyl phosphates (100). 

The synthesis of phenoxaphosphine-containing PODs by the cyclodehydration of polyhydra2ides obtained from 2,8-dichloroformyl-lO-phenylphenoxaphosphine-lO-oxide and aUphatic and aromatic dihydra2ides has been described (60). All polymers are soluble in formic acid, y -cresol, and cone H2SO4, but insoluble or partially soluble in ben2ene, chloroform, and hexamethylphosphoric triamide. 

Other routes for hydroxybenzaldehydes are the electrolytic or catalytic reduction of hydroxybenzoic acids (65,66) and the electrolytic or catalytic oxidation of cresols (67,68). (see Salicylic acid and related compounds). Sahcylaldehyde is available in drums and bulk quantities. The normal specification is a freezing point minimum of 1.4°C. 4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde is available in fiber dmms, and has a normal specification requirement of a 114°C initial melting point. More refined analytical methods are used where the appHcation requires more stringent specifications. 

Oxidation inhibitors function by intermpting the hydroperoxide chain reaction. At temperatures up to ca 120°C, di-Z fZ-butyl- -cresol, 2-naphthol,... 

PMMA is not affected by most inorganic solutions, mineral oils, animal oils, low concentrations of alcohols paraffins, olefins, amines, alkyl monohahdes and ahphatic hydrocarbons and higher esters, ie, >10 carbon atoms. However, PMMA is attacked by lower esters, eg, ethyl acetate, isopropyl acetate aromatic hydrocarbons, eg, benzene, toluene, xylene phenols, eg, cresol, carboHc acid aryl hahdes, eg, chlorobenzene, bromobenzene ahphatic acids, eg, butyric acid, acetic acid alkyl polyhaHdes, eg, ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride high concentrations of alcohols, eg, methanol, ethanol 2-propanol and high concentrations of alkahes and oxidizing agents. 

Alkylated phenol derivatives are used as raw materials for the production of resins, novolaks (alcohol-soluble resins of the phenol—formaldehyde type), herbicides, insecticides, antioxidants, and other chemicals. The synthesis of 2,6-xylenol [576-26-1] h.a.s become commercially important since PPO resin, poly(2,6-dimethyl phenylene oxide), an engineering thermoplastic, was developed (114,115). The demand for (9-cresol and 2,6-xylenol (2,6-dimethylphenol) increased further in the 1980s along with the growing use of epoxy cresol novolak (ECN) in the electronics industries and poly(phenylene ether) resin in the automobile industries. The ECN is derived from o-cresol, and poly(phenylene ether) resin is derived from 2,6-xylenol. 

Methylphenol is converted to 6-/ f2 -butyl-2-methylphenol [2219-82-1] by alkylation with isobutylene under aluminum catalysis. A number of phenoHc anti-oxidants used to stabilize mbber and plastics against thermal oxidative degradation are based on this compound. The condensation of 6-/ f2 -butyl-2-methylphenol with formaldehyde yields 4,4 -methylenebis(2-methyl-6-/ f2 butylphenol) [96-65-17, reaction with sulfur dichloride yields 4,4 -thiobis(2-methyl-6-/ f2 butylphenol) [96-66-2] and reaction with methyl acrylate under base catalysis yields the corresponding hydrocinnamate. Transesterification of the hydrocinnamate with triethylene glycol yields triethylene glycol-bis[3-(3-/ f2 -butyl-5-methyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate] [36443-68-2] (39). 2-Methylphenol is also a component of cresyHc acids, blends of phenol, cresols, and xylenols. CresyHc acids are used as solvents in a number of coating appHcations (see Table 3). 

The cumene is oxidized to cymene hydroperoxide, which decomposes to cresols and acetone. The process is similar to phenol (qv) production from cumene. 

Sulfation by sulfamic acid has been used ia the preparation of detergents from dodecyl, oleyl, and other higher alcohols. It is also used ia sulfating phenols and phenol—ethylene oxide condensation products. Secondary alcohols react ia the presence of an amide catalyst, eg, acetamide or urea (24). Pyridine has also been used. Tertiary alcohols do not react. Reactions with phenols yield phenyl ammonium sulfates. These reactions iaclude those of naphthols, cresol, anisole, anethole, pyrocatechol, and hydroquinone. Ammonium aryl sulfates are formed as iatermediates and sulfonates are formed by subsequent rearrangement (25,26). 

Stabilization of Fuels and Lubricants. Gasoline and jet engine fuels contain unsaturated compounds that oxidize on storage, darken, and form gums and deposits. Radical scavengers such as 2,4-dimethyl-6-/ f2 butylphenol [1879-09-0] 2,6-di-/ f2 -butyl-/)-cresol (1), 2,6-di-/ f2 -butylphenol [128-39-2], and alkylated paraphenylene diamines ate used in concentrations of about 5—10 ppm as stabilizers. 

The hydroxyl group of the resulting phenol is situated immediately adjacent to where the carboxyl group was previously located. This same Hquid-phase copper oxidation process chemistry has been suggested for the production of cresols by the oxidation of toluic acids. y -Cresol would be formed by the oxidation of either ortho or para toluic acids a mixture of 0- and -cresols would be produced from y -toluic acid (6). A process involving the vapor-phase catalytic oxidation of benzoic acid to phenol has been proposed, but no plants have ever been built utilizing this technology (27). 

In the future it may be possible to oxidize toluene microbiaHy to produce benzyl alcohol. Treatment of toluene in the presence of air with a culture of Af. thermophila in a phosphate buffer is reported to yield a mixture of benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, and -cresol [106-44-5] (3). 

ButylatedPhenols and Cresols. Butylated phenols and cresols, used primarily as oxidation inhibitors and chain terrninators, are manufactured by direct alkylation of the phenol using a wide variety of conditions and acid catalysts, including sulfuric acid, -toluenesulfonic acid, and sulfonic acid ion-exchange resins (110,111). By use of a small amount of catalyst and short residence times, the first-formed, ortho-alkylated products can be made to predominate. Eor the preparation of the 2,6-substituted products, aluminum phenoxides generated in situ from the phenol being alkylated are used as catalyst. Reaction conditions are controlled to minimise formation of the thermodynamically favored 4-substituted products (see Alkylphenols). The most commonly used is -/ fZ-butylphenol [98-54-4] for manufacture of phenoHc resins. The tert-huty group leaves only two rather than three active sites for condensation with formaldehyde and thus modifies the characteristics of the resin. 

Other modifications of the polyamines include limited addition of alkylene oxide to yield the corresponding hydroxyalkyl derivatives (225) and cyanoethylation of DETA or TETA, usuaHy by reaction with acrylonitrile [107-13-1/, to give derivatives providing longer pot Hfe and better wetting of glass (226). Also included are ketimines, made by the reaction of EDA with acetone for example. These derivatives can also be hydrogenated, as in the case of the equimolar adducts of DETA and methyl isobutyl ketone [108-10-1] or methyl isoamyl ketone [110-12-3] (221 or used as is to provide moisture cure performance. Mannich bases prepared from a phenol, formaldehyde and a polyamine are also used, such as the hardener prepared from cresol, DETA, and formaldehyde (228). Other modifications of polyamines for use as epoxy hardeners include reaction with aldehydes (229), epoxidized fatty nitriles (230), aromatic monoisocyanates (231), or propylene sulfide [1072-43-1] (232). 

A number of process improvements have been described, and iaclude the use of white mineral oil having a boiling range of 300—400°C (60) or the use of a mixture of cresols (61). These materials act to reduce the reaction mixture s viscosity, thus improving mixing. Higher sebacic acid yields are claimed by the use of catalysts such as barium salts (62), cadmium salts (63), lead oxide, and salts (64). 

Guaiacols. Cresote, obtained from the pyrolysis of beechwood, and its active principles guaiacol [90-05-1] (1) and cresol [93-51-6] (2) have long been used ia expectorant mixtures. The compounds are usually classed as direct-acting or stimulant expectorants, but their mechanisms of action have not been well studied. Cresol is obtained by the Clemmensen reduction of vanillin (3), whereas guaiacol can be prepared by a number of methods including the mercuric oxide oxidation of lignin (qv) (4), the ziac chloride reduction of acetovanillone (5), and the diazotization and hydrolysis of o-anisidine (6). 

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