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

Abstract

Abstract Methylbenzenes and naphthalenes were oxidized to quinones with aqueous(60%) H2O2 in acetic acid in the presence of a 0.24 wt% 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(50–64%). The increase in the reaction temperature increased the selectivity to quinones from 40% at 20 °C to 70% at 70 °C.