Oxidation alkyl substituted phenols with

Gumylphenol. -Cumylphenol (PGP) or 4-(1-methyl-l-phenylethyl)phenol is produced by the alkylation of phenol with a-methylstyrene under acid catalysis. a-Methylstyrene is a by-product from the production of phenol via the cumene oxidation process. The principal by-products from the production of 4-cumylphenol result from the dimerization and intramolecular alkylation of a-methylstyrene to yield substituted indanes. 4-Cumylphenol [599-64-4] is purified by either fractional distillation or crystallization from a suitable solvent. Purification by crystallization results in the easy separation of the substituted indanes from the product and yields a soHd material which is packaged in plastic or paper bags (20 kg net weight). Purification of 4-cumylphenol by fractional distillation yields a product which is almost totally free of any dicumylphenol. The molten product resulting from purification by distillation can be flaked to yield a soHd form however, the soHd form of 4-cumylphenol sinters severely over time. PGP is best stored and transported as a molten material. 

Alkyl-substituted phenols and alkanes were also oxidized to give the corresponding oxygenated products. In the case of isophorene, 3-formyl-5,5-dimethyl-2-cyclohexen-l-one was obtained selectively [110], The regioselectivity of the oxidation was remarkably different from that observed with the corresponding homogeneous analog, which produced 1,4-diketone as a major product [110] ... 

Hydrodesulfurization of certain hydroxy-437 and methoxy-sub-stituted615 alkybenzo[6]thiophenes is a useful means of preparing some otherwise inaccessible alkyl-substituted phenols [e.g., Eq. (15)].015 Various p-methoxyphenylbenzo[6]thiophenes have been employed similarly to prepare the corresponding hydroxydiphenyl-alkanes.464 Catalytic hydrodesulfurization of a-alkyl-/ -(3-benzo[6]-thienyl)propionic acids affords a convenient method of preparing a,y-disubstituted y-phenylbutyric acids.636 Treatment of / -(3-benzo[6]thienyl)acrylic acid with Raney nickel alloy, sodium meth-oxide, and deuterium oxide affords the deuterated acid (366).667... 

Once formed, these acids then degrade to lower-molecular-weight species such as the more easily defined aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acids. The final step is the formation of the carbon dioxide from these acids. Acids containing polycondensed ring systems are not often detected among the products of the oxidation of coal but there are claims that the mixed aromatic acids from the oxidation of coal with performic acid also contain a variety of phenols and alkyl-substituted phenols (Figure 12.4). 

Monteleone, F., Cavani, F., Felloni, C., et al (2004). A Redox Process for the Production of Menadione and Use of Polyoxometalates as Oxidizing Agents, International Patent Application WO 2004014832 Strukul, G., Somma, F., BaUarini, N., et al. (2009). The Oxidation of 2-methyl-1-naphthol to Menadione with H2O2, Catalyzed by Nb-based Heterogeneous Systems, Ap/iZ. Catal. A Gen., 356, pp. 162-166 Zalomaeva, O., Ivanchikova, I., Kholdeeva, O., et al (2009). Kinetics and Mechanism of the Oxidation of Alkyl Substituted Phenols and Naph-thols with TBuOOH in the Presence of Supported Iron Phthalocyanine, New J. Chem., 33, pp. 1031-1037. 

The reaction of alkyl- and halo-substituted phenols with Cr02Cl2 results mainly in the formation of quinones and diphenoquinones. Phenoxyl radicals are involved as intermediates. The mechanism of oxidation of a-hydroxycar-boxylic acids by pyridinium chlorochromate involves a rate-limiting hydride transfer. In the reaction of HOCD2CO2H, a kinetic isotope effect (W d) = 5.80 has been determined. Spectroscopic evidence for Cr(IV) and Cr(V) species has been obtained in the oxidation of alkylaromatics by chromyl acetate in acetic anhydride.Stopped-flow and esr studies show two stages (equations 22, 23) in the reactions of RCH2Ph, with both rates being decreased on deuteration at... 

The use of hypervalent iodine reagents in carbon-carbon bond forming reactions is summarized with particular emphasis on applications in organic synthesis. The most important recent methods involve the radical decarboxylative alkylation of organic substrates with [bis(acyloxy)iodo]arenes, spirocyclization of para- and ortho-substituted phenols, the intramolecular oxidative coupling of phenol ethers, and the reactions of iodonium salts and ylides. A significant recent research activity is centered in the area of the transition metal-mediated coupling reactions of the alkenyl-, aryl-, and alkynyliodonium salts. 

Oxidations of variously-substituted 4-alkyl- and 4-alkoxyphenols with BAIB or BTIB in alcoholic solvents provide ready access to alkoxy(alkyl)- and dialkoxycyclohexadienones (Scheme 23) [70-72]. Dienone formation is generally attributed to the capture of aryloxyiodane and/or aryloxenium ion intermediates with the alcohol [73]. Related C-0 bond forming oxidations of phenols with BAIB and BTIB, including intramolecular cyclizations leading to spiro-dienones, are summarized in several reviews [1 - 3,74]. 

A similar effect of pH on dissolution rates of Mn(III/IV) oxides was observed by Stone (1987b) with substituted phenols. In this study, phenols with alkyl, alkoxy, or other electron, donating substituents were more slowly degraded. Stone (1987b) even found that p-nitrophenol, the most resistant phenol studied, reacted slowly with Mn(III/IV) oxides. 

To be effective as autoxidation inhibitors radical scavengers must react quickly with peroxyl or alkyl radicals and lead thereby to the formation of unreactive products. Phenols substituted with electron-donating substituents have relatively low O-H bond dissociation enthalpies (Table 3.1 even lower than arene-bound isopropyl groups [68]), and yield, on hydrogen abstraction, stable phenoxyl radicals which no longer sustain the radical chain reaction. The phenols should not be too electron-rich, however, because this could lead to excessive air-sensitivity of the phenol, i.e. to rapid oxidation of the phenol via SET to oxygen (see next section). Scheme 3.17 shows a selection of radical scavengers which have proved suitable for inhibition of autoxidation processes (and radical-mediated polymerization). 

Although significant improvements have been made in the synthesis of phenol from benzene, the practical utility of direct radical hydroxylation of substituted arenes remains very low. A mixture of ortho-, meta- and para-substituted phenols is typically formed. Alkyl substituents are subject to radical H-atom abstraction, giving benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, and benzoic acid in addition to the mixture of cresols. Hydroxylation of phenylacetic acid leads to decarboxylation and gives benzyl alcohol along with phenolic products [2], A mixture of naphthols is produced in radical oxidations of naphthalene, in addition to diols and hydroxyketones [19]. 

Phenolic oxidative coupling. Oxidation of the phenolic amine (1) with 4.1 molar equivalents of ferric chloride hexahydrate gives 5-hydroxy-6-methoxyindole (2) in 10.6% yield. The amino nitrogen can also be substituted by an alkyl group.1... 

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