Oxidation of alkylaromatic compounds
AssigneeSolvay Interox Limited
InventorsScott William Brown, Kevin Auty
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Abstract
A process for the oxidation of alkylaromatic compounds is provided. The process comprises oxidizing a substrate alkylaromatic compound with a peroxygen compound in the presence of a source of cerium (III) or (IV), a source of bromide and a carboxylic acid or anhydride solvent. Preferably, the source of cerium is cerium (III) acetate, the source of bromide is sodium bromide and the solvent is acetic or propionic acid. The process is particularly suited to the selective oxidation of methylaromatic compounds to the corresponding aldehydes.
Claims24
A catalysed process for the oxidation of alkylaromatic compounds with a peroxygen compound in an aqueous reaction medium, wherein the catalyst comprises a source of cerium (III) or (IV), the reaction medium comprises a source of bromide ions and a solvent selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and anhydrides, and the alkylaromatic compound comprises an alkyl hydrogen atom bonded to the carbon alpha to the aromatic ring, whereby said process is effective at producing aldehyde or lower oxidized intermediate oxidation products in preference to carboxylic acid.
A process for the selective oxidation of methylaromatic compounds to aldehydes with a peroxygen compound in an aqueous reaction medium, characterised in that the catalyst comprises a source of cerium (III) or (IV), and the reaction medium comprises a source of bromide ions and a solvent selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids and anhydrides.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.