Benzylic oxidation and catalyst therefor

摘要

Oxidation of alkylaromatics having a benzylic hydrogen atom is catalyzed by a catalyst comprising a palladium salt, a metal persulfate, a third metal salt, and a tin salt in a carboxylic acid for a period of time sufficient to convert the alkylaromatics to their corresponding oxidized derivatives. The catalyst is prepared by preheating the palladium salt and the metal persulfate at a temperature sufficient to provide the desired catalytic activity followed by addition of the third metal salt and the tin salt.