PROCESS FOR PREPARATION OF AROMATIC TERTIARY HYDROPEROXIDES AND PHENOLS PREPARED THEREFROM

摘要

An improvement in theoxidation rate and selectivity of the preparation of aromatic tertiary hydroperoxides may be achieved by contacting an oily liquid phase comprising an aromatic compound having a secondary alkyl group, which phase is being agitated with a basic aqueous liquid phase, with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a copper compound catalyst composed of an inorganic salt or organic acid salt of copper, thereby oxidizing the aromatic compound to a corresponding aromatic tertiary hydroperoxide, wherein during oxidation the total concentration of the copper compound catalyst in the two phases is maintained at from 0.005 to 10 ppm, calculated on the basis of copper in the catalyst, and the pH value of the basic aqueous phase is maintained at from 7.6 to 10. The hydroperoxides thus produced may be used to produce corresponding phenols.