A method of oxidising secondary alkyl substituted naphthalenes.

摘要

A method of oxidizing secondary alkyl substituted naphthalenes with molecular oxygen in a liquid phase to hydroperoxides, carbinols or mixtures of these, which comprises: oxidizing the secondary alkyl substituted naphthalenes in the presence of an aromatic hydrocarbon having a fused ring which contains at least one methylene group therein in amounts of not more than about 1000 ppm based on the secondary alkyl substituted naphthalene used. A process of producing isopropylnaphthols is also disclosed, which comprises: oxidizing diisopropylnaphthalenes with molecular oxygen in a liquid phase to diisopropylnaphthalene monohydroperoxides in the presence of (a) either an aromatic hydrocarbon having a fused ring which contains at least one methylene group therein, or a paladium catalyst soluble in the reaction mixture, and (b) an organic polar compound such as acetonitrile; and then acid-decomposing the diisopropylnaphthalene monohydroperoxide to the isopropylnaphthol.