PRODUCTION OF P-ACETOXYBENZOIC ACID

摘要

PURPOSE:To obtain the titled compound useful as a raw material for liquid polymers readily and in high yield without forming isomers, by reacting p- tolualdehyde as a starting raw material through p-cresol and p-cresyl acetate. CONSTITUTION:p-Tolualdehyde is used as a raw material and subjected to Bayer-Villiger reaction with a peroxide (an organic peroxide such as hydrogen peroxide, performic acid or peracetic acid is used and the amount of the organic peroxide used is preferably 1-2mol. based on 1mol. raw material) in an inert solvent such as formic acid in the presence of a catalyst such as sulfuric acid to give p-cresol. Then the prepared p-cresol is esterified with acetic acid preferably in the presence of an acid catalyst while removing formed water by reaction distillation to give p-cresyl acetate. Successively the p-cresyl acetate is oxidized with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in a solvent in the presence of a catalyst to give the aimed compound.