Abstract
An efficient method for the oxidation of phenols to 1,4-benzoquinones catalyzed by cuprous(I) chloride was achieved in a solution of acetonitrile and water using molecular dioxygen as an oxidant. Particularly, the inert phenols, such as phenol and mono-alkyl substituted phenols, were effectively oxidized to 1,4-benzoquinones via the selective activation of CH bond in para-position into CO bond under mild conditions. The catalyst shows high activity for unsubstituted or alkyl substituted phenols, but no effect on substituted phenols with electron-withdrawing groups. This study offers an aerobic method for the selective oxidation of aromatic phenols to 1,4-benzoquinones.
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