Abstract: The known nuclear hydroxylation of phenol with organic solutions of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst is carried out in improved manner by employing both (1) a special, practically water free solution of hydrogen peroxide in an organic solvent which forms an azeotrope with water, which azeotrope boils below the boiling point of hydrogen peroxide, and (2) sulfur dioxide as a catalyst. Through this, the nuclear hydroxylation is substantially simpler than previously; difficult separations, e.g., from water-phenol, or the separation and recovery of the catalyst are eliminated. Besides, the yields are increased.

Abstract: The known nuclear hydroxylation of phenol or substituted phenols or phenol ethers with organic solutions of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst is carried out in improved manner by employing both (1) a special, practically water free solution of hydrogen peroxide in an organic solvent which forms an azeotrope with water, which azeotrope boils below the boiling point of hydrogen peroxide, and (2) selenium dioxide as a catalyst. Through this, the nuclear hydroxylation is substantially simpler than previously. Besides, for the first time, it is possible to control the ortho to para ratio or the two ortho ratios to each other.

Abstract: A process is provided for oxidizing unsaturated organic compounds with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a strong-acid type of polymer containing a cation of a transition metal. The process results in a decrease in undesired side reactions in epoxidations and improved isomer control in the hydroxylation of aromatic compounds.

Abstract: This invention provides a process in which phenol is reacted with hydrogen peroxide to form hydroquinone in the presence of a shape-selective zeolite catalyst such as HZSM-5. Essentially no catechol byproduct is produced.

Abstract: The nuclear hydroxylation of phenol with organic solutions of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst is carried out in improved manner by employing both (1) a special, practically water free solution of hydrogen peroxide in an organic solvent which does not form an azeotrope with water or whose highest azeotrope with water, boil near or above the boiling point of hydrogen peroxide, and (2) employing as a catalyst XO.sub.2 where X is sulfur, selenium, or tellurium. Besides increasing the yield and the ability to carry out the reaction in a simpler manner when selenium dioxide is employed as a catalyst, there can also be controlled the ortho-para ratio, respectively, the ortho-ortho ratio of the product.

Abstract: There is taught a class of homogeneous oxidation catalysts characterized by the presence therein of two chelated cations of Cu(I) in each molecule.

Abstract: The known nuclear hydroxylation of substituted phenols or phenol ethers with organic solutions of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst is carried out in improved manner by employing both (1) a special, practically water free solution of hydrogen peroxide in an organic solvent which forms an azeotrope with water, which azeotrope boils below the boiling point of hydrogen peroxide, and (2) sulfur dioxide as a catalyst. Through this, the nuclear hydroxylation is substantially simpler than previously; difficult separations, e.g., from water-phenol, or the separation and recovery of the catalyst are eliminated. Besides, the yields are increased.

Abstract: Peroxidic complexes of vanadium, niobium or tantalum, wherein the metal is linked to an oxygen molecule carrying two negative charges, are used either as reactants for the oxidation of olefinic substrates or hydrocarbons, or as hydrocarbons oxidation catalysts, particularly for converting olefinic compounds to epoxides or aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons to the corresponding alcohols or phenols.

Abstract: A process for making a hydroquinone from phenol or substituted phenol wherein the phenol is oxidized in the presence of a copper catalyst to a p-benzoquinone compound and the p-benzoquinone compound is directly hydrogenated without additional catalyst to the corresponding hydroquinone.

Abstract: A process for producing phloroglucin important as an intermediate compound of medicine, sensitizer and the like which comprises reacting an oxidation product containing at least one carbinol compound of carbinol dihydroperoxide, dicarbinol hydroperoxide and tricarbinol obtained by oxidation of 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene, with hydrogen peroxide in a heterogeneous system in the presence of an acid catalyst and an organic solvent inert to the hydrogen peroxide and capable of dissolving the oxidation product, and decomposing the reaction product with an acid.

Abstract: p-Cresol is produced in one step by direct oxidation of p-tolualdehyde with a peroxide in formic acid as a solvent while keeping 3 to 15% by weight of water in formic acid on the basis of formic acid and a reaction temperature in a range of 50.degree. to 150.degree. C.

Abstract: Process for hydroxylating alkylphenols in which the carbon atoms of the alkyl group bonded to the aromatic nucleus has at least one hydrogen atom bonded thereto and the phenolic ethers thereof, at the meta position relative to the phenol or ether function, by reacting the phenol compound with an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution in the presence of a liquid superacid at low temperature.

Abstract: Process for the isomerization of ortho- and para-bromophenols or the ethers thereof into corresponding meta-brominated derivatives by isomerizing ortho- and para-bromophenols in the corresponding ethers in the presence of a liquid superacid at a temperature in the region of ambient temperature.

Abstract: Optionally aldehyde substituted polyphenols are prepared by oxidizing, with hydrogen peroxide, a hydroxybenzaldehyde bearing at least one aldehyde substituent ortho- and/or para- to the nuclear hydroxyl group, in an aqueous reaction medium and in the presence of an alkali or alkaline earth metal base, the process being characterized in that the pH of the reaction medium is continuously maintained at a value no greater than 7 throughout the course of the oxidation reaction.The subject process is well suited for the preparation of, e.g., hydroxy-p-vanillin from guaiacol, and the novel compound 2,4,6-triformylphenol.

Abstract: A process for preparing a methyl phenol from a tertiary hydroperoxide in an oxidation product of an alkylbenzene of the general structural formula ##STR1## wherein R is a secondary alkyl group and n is an integer of 1 to 3, which comprises hydrogenating the oxidation product in the presence of a mineral acid medium with a hydrogenation catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of resorcinol derivatives of the general formula I ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is carbalkoxy, nitrile, alkyl or H and R.sup.2 to R.sup.5 are H or lower alkyl, by reacting the corresponding cyclohexane-1,3-dione (II) with oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalytic amount of a copper compound and of from 1 to 10 moles of a hydrogen halide, or from 0.5 to 5 moles of thionyl chloride per mole of II, in an alkanol having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, tetrahydrofuran or methyl tert.-butyl ether as the solvent, at from 0.degree. to 150 C., without the addition of a significant amount of water to the reaction mixture. Some of the resorcinol derivatives prepared are useful scents with fragrance notes of the character of the odoriferous substance of natural oak moss.

Abstract: A process for the hydroxylation of aromatic hydrocarbons by hydrogen peroxide, consisting in reacting said compounds in the presence of synthetic zeolites which contain heteroatoms, both replaced and exchanged.The reaction is carried out at a temperature comprised between 80.degree. C. and 120.degree. C. and in the presence of the hydrocarbon only or in the presence of a solvent which permits, at least partially, to admix the aromatic hydrocarbon with the hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of polyhydric phenols by hydroxylation of phenols with peroxidic hydroxylating agents and in the presence of 0.00005 to 0.03% by weight (relative to the phenols employed) of substances which can form chelate complexes with metal ions, such as nitrogen-containing di- or poly- carboxylic acids or phosphoric acid derivatives. The products of the process are known to be useful in the fields of photography, dyestuffs, plastics, fragrances and flavors.

Abstract: Pyrogallol, and analogues thereof having an alkyl, carboxy or alkoxycarbonyl substituent in the benzene ring, and their salts, are prepared by oxidizing, preferably by hydrogen peroxide, the corresponding compounds in which 1 or 2 of the OH groups are replaced by --COR.sup.5 groups where R.sup.5 represents hydrogen, alkyl or phenylalkyl. The production of intermediates is also described and some of these are novel.

Abstract: A process for preparing an aromatic aldehyde represented by the following general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 each represents a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group or R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may jointly form an alkylene group, provided that R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 do not represent a hydrogen atom at the same time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of phenols which comprises reacting an .alpha.-hydroxyalkyl-substituted aromatic compound and/or an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated alkyl-substituted aromatic compound with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an acid catalyst, in which hydrogen peroxide is diluted with a diluent, especially acetone, so that the volume is at least 10 times the original volume, and the diluted hydrogen peroxide is supplied in a divided manner to at least two portions of a reaction vessel or the diluted hydrogen peroxide is scattered by sprinkling into the reaction vessel. According to a preferred embodiment, the diluted hydrogen peroxide is continuously supplied to the gas phase in the reaction vessel from a scattering device which is similar to but separate from a scattering device for supplying the starting aromatic compound, particularly, a product formed by oxidizing an isopropyl aromatic compound with molecular oxygen.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting p-isopropenylphenol and derivatives thereof and, more particularly, oligomers of p-isopropenylphenol and derivatives thereof, to hydroquinone via monomeric intermediates [e.g. p-(2-haloisopropyl)phenol in the case of p-isopropenylphenol and oligomers thereof]. The process involves reacting the starting materials with a hydrogen halide (e.g. gaseous hydrogen chloride) in the presence of an organic solvent and subjecting the product so obtained to oxidation with hydrogen peroxide or an organic hydroperoxide.

Abstract: An improved process for the preparation of a polyhydric phenol by hydroxylation of a phenol with a peroxidic hydroxylating agent, is disclosed. The improvement resides in that before the hydroxylation, all or some of the mixture to be hydroxylated is treated with a cation exchanger.

Abstract: Aromatic hydrocarbons and particularly phenols and phenol ethers can be hydroxylated by reacting the aromatic compound with hydrogen peroxide in a reaction medium comprising trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. High yields of hydroxylated aromatic compounds are obtained by this process which avoids the use of extremely corrosive and difficult to handle agents. Phenol is hydroxylated predominantly to hydroquinone by this process.

Abstract: The explosive 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is desensitized by dissolving it in oleum of from 10 to 40% (by weight) in strength. The solutions formed preferably contain at least 400 g and at most 480 g of dissolved TNT per liter of oleum in oleum of 20-25% strength. They are especially useful for the preparation of phloroglucinol.

Abstract: Cyclohexanone and/or cyclohexanol can be oxidized in the vapor phase to phenol by contacting the cyclohexanone and/or cyclohexanol with a suitable oxidation catalyst in the presence of molecular oxygen. Suitable catalysts are solids comprising Mo, W, Sb and/or V oxides or complexes thereof. The catalysts may be promoted with additional elements.

Abstract: An improved process for producing hydroquinone from p-isopropenyl phenol is disclosed. Hydroquinone is obtained by oxidizing p-isopropenyl phenol with hydrogen peroxide or an organic peroxide as an oxidizing agent at a temperature of 28.degree. to 50.degree. C. in the presence of a strong acid catalyst using a slightly or hardly water-soluble high-boiling polar solvent. In the oxidation reaction, the mole ratio of the oxidizing agent to p-isopropenyl phenol is kept at less than 1. After the reaction, in order to effectively decompose or consume the undecomposed p-isopropenyl phenol hydroperoxide and the unreacted oxidizing agent remaining in the reaction mixture, the reaction mixture is aged. Alternatively, or subsequently to the aging reaction, SO.sub.2 is added to the reaction mixture to completely decompose the undecomposed or unreacted peroxide. Thus, hydroquinone of high purity is obtained.

Abstract: An improved process is described for the preparation of 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone by catalytically oxidizing a trimethylphenol selected from the class consisting of 2,3,5-trimethylphenol, 2,3,6-trimethylphenol and mixtures thereof with oxygen in the presence of a cobalt chelate catalyst complex in a dimethylformamide solvent to form 2,3,5-trimethyl-p-benzoquinone which is subsequently hydrogenated to 2,3,5-trimethylhydroquinone by reaction with hydrogen in the presence of a noble metal catalyst.

Abstract: Aromatic hydrocarbons and particularly phenols and phenol ethers can be hydroxylated by reacting the aromatic compound with hydrogen peroxide in a reaction medium comprising trifluoromethanesulfonic acid. High yields of hydroxylated aromatic compounds are obtained by this process which avoids the use of extremely corrosive and difficult to handle agents. Phenol is hydroxylated predominantly to hydroquinone by this process.

Abstract: A process for the production of pyrocatechol and hydroquinone by the hydroxylation of phenol in the nucleus with hydrogen peroxide, wherein phenol is reacted at the start of the reaction with substantially anhydrous hydrogen peroxide and wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a strong acid.

Abstract: Aromatic compounds of the general formula ##STR1## in which R and R.sub.o represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl radical of 1 to 4 carbon atoms are hydroxylated by reaction with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalytic amount of a strong acid and the reaction is carried out in the presence of an activator which is a juxtanuclear aromatic aldehyde or derivative thereof selected from an acetal or a benzhydrol.

Abstract: A process has been invented for the preparation of dihydric substituted phenols which comprises reacting a solution, which is essentially anhydrous and free from hydrogen peroxide, of a percarboxylic acid in an inert organic solvent with a monohydric substituted phenol, which is derived from benzene, naphthalene or anthracene and still contains at least one free hydrogen atom in the aromatic nucleus, at temperatures from about -20.degree. C. to about 120.degree. C.The dihydric substituted phenols obtained according to the invention are known, important industrial intermediate products used in the fields of photography, dyestuffs and plastics, as well as in the scent and flavoring areas.

Abstract: A process has been invented for the preparation of pyrocatechol and hydroquinone which comprises reacting a solution which is substantially anhydrous and free from hydrogen peroxide, of a percarboxylic acid in an inert, organic solvent, with phenol at temperatures from -10.degree. C. to 80.degree. C.The compounds obtained according to the invention are known, important industrial chemicals which are used in large amounts in the field of photography and of dyestuffs and plastics and in the field of scents and flavorings.

Abstract: A process for the hydroxylation of phenols and phenol ethers in the nucleus with hydrogen peroxide wherein a phenol or a phenol ether is reacted at the start of the reaction with substantially anhydrous hydrogen peroxide and wherein the reaction is carried out in the presence of a strong acid.

Abstract: A process for producing phenols which comprises oxidizing an aromatic hydrocarbon ring-substituted by an isopropyl group in one step in the liquid phase using molecular oxygen or a gas containing molecular oxygen in the presence or absence of a solvent, wherein the oxidation is carried out in the presence of an aromatic mercaptan having an acid dissociation constant (pKa) of less than 7.8.

Abstract: Catalysts for the catalytic oxidation of organic compounds containing silicon, vanadium, sulfur, oxygen and at least one alkali metal element. The catalyst is prepared from a silicic acid which has an average particle size of less than 50 microns and an alkali metal content of less than 2% by weight, calculated as Na.sub.2 O and expressed relative to anhydrous silicic acid.