PURPOSE: To industrially obtain the titled compound which is an intermediate for medicines, by oxidizing 2,3,6-trimethylphenyl in the presence of a catalyst of cupric chloride and lithium chloride using a mixture solution of an aromatic hydrocarbon and lower aliphatic alcohol as a solvent.
CONSTITUTION: 2,3,5-Trimethylphenol is oxidized with preferably molecular oxygen in the presence of cupric chloride and lithium chloride as a catalyst (preferably an aqueous solution) using a mixture solution of an aromatic hydrocarbon, such as benzene, toluene, xylene or chlorobenzene, and a 1W4C aliphatic alcohol, such as methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, 2-butanol or tert.-butanol, as a solvent to afford 2,3,5-trimethylbenzoquinone. Since the inexpensive reusable catalyst is used, good yield is obtained. The solvent can also be reused and the resultant product is useful as a synthetic intermediate for medicines, such as vitamin E.
HAMAMURA KICHISABURO
INAI YUICHI
EMA KIICHI
BANBA TAKASHI
KIJIMA SHIZUMASA