A PROCESS FOR THE SEPARATION OF MIXTURES OF METHYL ESTERS OF META AND PARA CRESOL

摘要

A method of separating 3-methoxy toluene from a mixture of 3-methoxy toluene and 4-methoxy toluene comprises oxidising 4-methoxy toluene to 4-methoxy benzaldehyde using manganese dioxide and thereafter separating the 3-methoxy toluene from the resulting 4-methoxy benzaldehyde. The oxidation is preferably carried out in a stirred reaction vessel at a temperature of 45 DEG to 55 DEG C with a suspension of manganese dioxide in a solution of dilute sulphuric acid. The manganese dioxide is desirably prepared by oxidising a manganous salt in an electrochemical cell, preferably a cell as described in European Patent Specification No. 0 064 417.