Phenols from Benzaldehydes using Hydrogen PeroxideHTML by metanoid[ Back to the Chemistry Archive ] When a solution of 2-methoxybenzaldehyde (a) (5.0 g, 36.7 mmol) and 31% aqueous H2O2 (5.3 g, 48 mmol) in methanol (50 mL) was stirred with sulfuric acid (0.5 mL) at room temperature for 24 h, 2-methoxyphenol was produced in a 94% yield. Similarly, a wide variety of other benzaldehydes 1 were oxidized to the corresponding phenols and/or methyl benzoates as cited in Table I.
a Unless otherwise stated, benzaldehyde 1 (5 mmol) and 31% H2O2 (6.4 mmol) were stirred in the presence of H2SO4 (0.1 mL) in methanol (10 mL) under an argon atmosphere at room temperature.
References[1] J. Org. Chem. 1984,49, 4740-4741 |