| 摘要 |
<p>A process for the production of 2,3,5-trimethyl- benzoquinone (TMBQ) from 2,3,6- trimethylphenol (TMP) is described, comprising contacting TMP with molecular oxygen in a medium of water and an aliphatic alcohol having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms in the presence as a catalyst of a copper halogeno complex represented by the general formula as shown below or a mixture of the copper halogeno complex and an alkali metal halide. Ml[Cu(II)mXn]p wherein M is an alkali metal or ammonium, Cu(II) is a divalent copper, X is a halogen atom, I is an integer of 1 to 3, m is 1 or 2, n is an integer of 3 to 8, p is 1 or 2, and I + 2mp = np. The present process yields various advantages; for example, TMBQ can be produced with high selectivity, and since the reaction is performed in a specific medium (the medium is heterogeneous because the alcohols are immiscible or little miscible with water) and TMBQ is soluble in the alcohol layer, while the catalyst is soluble in the water layer, TMBQ can be easily separated and reuse of the catalyst can be accomplished by a simplified procedure. TMBQ is a useful compound as an intermediate for use in the preparation of Vitamin E.</p> |
