Method of oxidizing secondary alkyl substituted naphtalenes and a process of producing isopropylnaphthols

A process of producing isopropylnaphthols which comprises:

• oxidizing diisopropylnaphthalenes with molecular oxygen in a liquid phase to diisopropylnaphthalene monohydroperoxides in the presence of (a) an organic polar compound in amounts of about 0.001-10 parts by weight per one part by weight of the diisopropylnaphthalene used and (b) an aromatic hydrocarbon having a fused ring which contains at least one methylene group therein, and having from 9 to 14 carbon atoms, in amounts of from about 10.sup.-4 parts by weight to about 0.005 parts by weight per one part by weight of the diisopropylnaphthalene used;
• and then,
• acid-decomposing the diisopropylnaphthalene monohydroperoxide to the isopropylnaphthol.

A process of producing isopropylnaphthols which comprises:

• oxidizing diisopropylnaphthalenes with molecular oxygen in a liquid phase to diisopropylnaphthalene monohydroperoxides in the presence of (a) an organic polar compound in amounts of about 0.001-10 parts by weight per one part by weight of the diisopropylnaphthalene used and (b) a palladium catalyst soluble in a reaction mixture in amounts of not less than about 0.1 ppm as metallic palladium based on the diisopropylnaphthalene used;
• and then,
• acid-decomposing the diisopropylnaphthalene monohydroperoxide to the isopropylnaphthol.