Efficient syntheses of hydroxybenzaldehyde derivatives by oxygen oxidation: Part I.

Abstract

Selective catalysts for the liquid-phase oxidation of cresol derivatives to hydroxybenzaldehyde derivatives, which are important chemical intermediates for the pharmaceutical industry, have been developed. When cresol derivatives in methanol were reacted with cerium catalysts under 3 kg cm −2 pressure of oxygen gas at 120 °C, high yields (95%) of the hydroxybenzaldehyde derivatives were obtained, even in the absence of base.