Process for the hydroxylation of aromatic compounds

A process for the hydroxylation of an aromatic compound having the structural formula:

• ##STR3## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and lower alkoxy having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms and hydroxy, with the proviso that, when either R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is hydroxy, then R is lower alkoxy, which process comprises reacting such organic compound with hydrogen peroxide at a reaction temperature between about -40.degree. and 10.degree. C., in a reaction medium comprising trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, wherein the volume ratio between the trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and the aromatic compound is at least about 0.25, the molar ratio of hydrogen perioxide/aromatic compound is between about 0.025 and 0.3, and the weight of the trifluoromethanesulfonic acid is between about 1 and 30%, to thereby form the hydroxylated aromatic compound reaction product of the following formulae:
• ##STR4## wherein R, R.sub.1, and R.sub.2 are as defined before.