Use of water soluble metallo phthalocyanines as oxidation catalysts

In the hydroperoxide oxidation of an aromatic compound having the general structural formula (I) ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different radicals selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl radicals containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 can be taken together to form a cycloalkyl ring having from 4 to 7 carbon atoms, A is an aromatic nucleus and R.sup.3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, halo radicals, acetyl radicals and methoxy radicals in the presence of a metallo phthalocyanine catalyst at a temperature of from 50.degree. C. to 150.degree. C. at a pressure of from atmospheric pressure to 500 pounds per square inch gauge oxygen partial pressure, the improvement comprising first rendering the metallo phthalocyanine catalyst water soluble by sulfonation using a combination of a material selected from the group consisting of (A) chlorosulfuric acid or (B) sulfuric acid monohydrate combined with fuming sulfuric acid.